Richard Riakporhe to face Billam-Smith at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park – with club’s charity to benefit from ticket sales
Walworth cruiserweight Richard Riakporhe will challenge for the WBO world title on June 15 against Chris Billam-Smith – with Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park hosting the bout.
The two fighters met earlier in their career with the undefeated Riakporhe earning a split decision verdict at Greenwich’s 02 Arena in 2019.
Bournemouth’s Billam-Smith has gone on to impressively rebuild from that reverse, collecting the Commonwealth and European belts before defeating Lawrence Okolie for the WBO world title in May 2023.
Billam-Smith, 33, is set to make the second defence of his belt against Riakporhe, 34. The South Londoner is 17-0 in the paid ranks with 13KOs.
Riakporhe’s last five victories have all been by stoppage.
A percentage from every ticket sold will go to the Palace For Life charity.
Riakporhe said: “I’m coming from a council estate, Aylesbury Estate, where nobody cared – just crime. If we sit down and break down a percentage of the people who make it out of that environment it is less than five per cent. That is the reality.
“People end up becoming a product of their environment and then you have got an incentive like that, every ticket you buy is going to be dough to a charity where you can see them effecting the community in a positive way – nurturing talent, that’s what I want to be a part of.
“Don’t get me wrong – winning world titles is great – but this is a long-lasting legacy which is going to surpass all of those accolades.”
Billam-Smith said: “I’m massively motivated. This really stamps my name down in this era of cruiserweights, one of the best we’ve ever had in terms of depth. Not saying the best – because you’ve got the likes of David Haye in there (from the past), who would be hard to ever beat as a British cruiserweight.
“Now you have got a really solid handful plus there is a crop coming through. No disrespect to the guys coming through, who I might be a target for, but after this fight I want to go and chase the other champions.
“I want an American away day.”
MAIN PICTURE: PA
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