Chris Billam-Smith targets Gilberto Ramirez world title unification after Richard Riakporhe triumph | Boxing Information

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Chris Billam-Smith settled his rating with Richard Riakporhe, avenging his solely earlier skilled defeat and defending the WBO cruiserweight world title for a second time.

It was his second world title battle at a Premier League soccer stadium towards a British rival.

Now he has set his sights on a visit abroad and changing into a unified champion.

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Andy Scott and John Dennen ship their verdict on Billam-Smith’s win over Riakporhe and marvel how far he can go within the sport

Gilberto Ramirez, the WBA cruiserweight titlist, is the opponent he needs subsequent and he is keen to go to the US to make that battle.

“I’d be really honoured. It would be crazy to make more memories out there,” Billam-Smith informed Sky Sports activities Information.

“I need to battle in America. Each Brit’s dream is clearly to battle of their house soccer crew’s stadium after which go to America. Ricky Hatton had it.

“‘Zurdo’ Ramirez is the WBA champion. I would love that belt, that’s the one George Groves won. I would love to fight him [Ramirez] out there, he fights out there so that makes it a possibility.”

Billam-Smith first gained the WBO world title in his Bournemouth hometown when he upset Lawrence Okolie on the Vitality stadium.

This weekend he travelled to Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium to tackle Riakporhe at his membership.

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Billam-Smith defended his WBO cruiserweight world title towards Riakporhe with a unanimous choice win at Selhurst Park

As soon as once more it was Billam-Smith who rose to the event. That prior expertise towards Okolie on the Vitality stadium helped him however so did: “Everything through my career. The experience and the tough fights, the bad performances, the good performances.

“The expertise I had being round George Groves, Luke Campbell, Josh Taylor. Barry McGuigan comes and watches most spars, if not all of them, while you’ve obtained that information round you and that have round you, you are continually studying and that is why the fitness center has a lot success as a result of we have got that conveyor belt of champions.”

Ultimately Billam-Smith took a clear unanimous decision over Riakporhe, nullifying his challenger’s fearsome punch-power over the course of a rough 12 rounds.

“The gameplan was good,” he said. “[Felt] actually comfy all through. Had a great deal of power left. The gameplan was do not waste power, do not attempt to drive the battle.

“He had an excellent begin to the battle. He jabbed very well. I wasn’t shifting sufficient. He was jabbing very well, then I began to get my motion in.

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Have a look again at a few of the greatest stadium fights in British boxing historical past

“I respect Richard. I’ve got a lot of respect for the fans,” he added. “We’re all Palace fans this summer, they’ve got plenty of players in the England team.

“A large thanks to everybody who supported me. You’ve got given me desires again house and you’ve got supported me away.”

For Billam-Smith his world title desires simply carry on getting greater. He is crushed his finest rivals in Britain, fought in a stadium twice over. Now he needs to overcome America, and he needs Gilberto Ramirez subsequent.

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