McGuigan: Opetaia the dream fight

Some interesting post-fight press conference comments filtering through…

Billam-Smith: “Richard’s a phenomenal fighter and can punch, you don’t wanna have terminator fights with someone like that, me and Shane [McGuigan] had a 30-minute hotel room chat so I knew what I had to do, was drilled in the changing room so all credit goes his way.”

Shane McGuigan on what’s next: “Challenges is the most important thing, Okolie and Riakporhe clear favourites but he does the business. We want Zurdo or Noel, then Opetaia early next summer – that’s the dream fight.”

Ben Shalom: “Chris was levels above tonight, never write him off… fifth fight and all high-level wins with us, where does the journey go? He’s getting better, haven’t seen him in such good shape and mentally so ready – kept a dangerous fighter looking lacklustre for 12 rounds.”

What’s next?

Ben Shalom just co-signed a unification against Zurdo, while it’ll be interesting to see where next for Riakporhe after falling short here.

CBS was asked for his view, saying: “I thought it was 8-4 [scorecards] at worst, very comfortable and he caught me once. He’s a great fighter but just needs more experience at this level, he’ll be back.”

Some within boxing circles this week have suggested Riakporhe struggled to make the weight and if so, perhaps a bridgerweight move would make sense – local rival Lawrence Okolie is still an option.

CBS meanwhile, will likely rest over the next month or two before assessing his options in a division still lacking a true number one.

CBS: Career-best performance? “I think so”

During his post-fight interview in the ring with Sky, Billam-Smith spoke at length about his team – paying tribute to Shane McGuigan and the rest of his coaches – as well as his own performance.

The biggest difference between him and Riakporhe?

“My experience, speed, gameplan. Shane is a master, the world’s best coach,” before insisting he wants a unification with WBA world champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez next Stateside. Revenge is sweet.

AND STILL! CBS avenges defeat, retains WBO world title

116-111, 115-112, 115-112: Chris Billam-Smith successfully retains his WBO cruiserweight world title with a UD12 win over Richard Riakporhe!

Riakporhe got his fight tactics all wrong on home soil and besides the right-hand, didn’t offer much more than excessive holding here.

Questions over the Bournemouth man’s durability were answered, he rode hairy moments and a worthy winner at a chilly Selhurst Park.

CBS aloft on ring apron!

Billam-Smith is lifted onto the top rope by head trainer Shane McGuigan as he celebrates, hands outstretched.

Riakporhe looks a tad sheepish in response, and the art of body language suggests we all know who has won this. Scorecards coming!

CBS Riakporhe R12

Final round time!

Billam-Smith is up by my estimation, Riakporhe has the equaliser in his right hand and that will carry him until the final bell, if nothing else. As far as fight tactics are concerned, he hasn’t adapted well.

Riakporhe lands low, twice in quick succession with no punishment, before CBS throws a fast flurry and eats one flush for his troubles.

Finally, at long last, Riakporhe is deducted a point for leading with his head but it came about eight rounds too late.

CBS Riakporhe R11

Two more rounds left, and Riakporhe needs to bait CBS into leaving himself defensively open. Whether that be up close, or at distance.

The excessive holding isn’t allowing him much scope to do so, and CBS walks forward after eating a right hand – talk about demoralising.

CBS absorbs another right cross, before unloading body punches on the inside in return as the champion keeps shrewd point-scoring.

CBS Riakporhe R10

CBS had his best round in the eighth, Riakporhe’s right hand was a fitting response to cap the ninth and now, we’ve got a fitting finale.

Another timeout is called so Steve Gray can lecture both yet whatever he said immediately gets ignored, as the clinching continues.

CBS goes back to his jab, throwing some uppercuts in for good measure as the round essentially peters out.

CBS Riakporhe R9

Into the ninth and the duality of Riakporhe is on full display: he stings CBS with a right, then lands a low blow immediately afterwards.

Billam-Smith can recover, timeout called and danger temporarily over.

It resumes though, Riakporhe lands a cuffing right which doesn’t land clean, but disrupts the champion’s equilibrium as he staggers back towards the ropes. Big finish to the round and dearly needed!

CBS Riakporhe R8

Billam-Smith lands his best shot for a while, curling Riakporhe into a corner as the challenger looks almost dazed.

Panic stations over shortly afterwards, as CBS is pinned against the ropes in another holding sequence, before the champion lands a stinging left hook, right hand combo!

Riakporhe staggers back to his corner after eating two more unanswered punches clean, CBS’ best round so far and you can tell by the crowd’s muted response… they need to encourage their man.

CBS Riakporhe R7

Into the second-half of this domestic world title fight we go, it’d be interesting to see how many times referee Steve Gray has paused this bout given how much clinching and excessive holding there has been.

If you’re not going to punish it, why stop them?

Riakporhe’s gumshield flies out midway through the stanza and there’s (yet another) reprieve, Billam-Smith right now doing enough to win rounds on the basis of pressure and cleaner work.

CBS Riakporhe R6

Another scrappy round but CBS is starting to chain his attacks together a bit more, uppercuts and body punching to boot.

Riakporhe’s power still remains, as evidenced by a whipping right he lands in the final half-minute, but he needs to be busier and quickly.

CBS Riakporhe R5

A third of the way through and Billam-Smith remains a hittable target, so Riakporhe’s resolve will never waver – especially here.

He lands a short right, then gets lectured by the official once more before CBS lands a nice uppercut and some body work up close.

Riakporhe wizzes wide with a right, referee warnings becoming a persistent theme in this stop-start affair now.

CBS Riakporhe R4

Into the fourth they go, Billam-Smith sticks his tongue out after landing a two-punch combo with Riakporhe up against the ropes.

The champion is starting to feel himself now, but can’t allow overconfidence to creep into his work with a heavy-handed challenger ready to respond at any moment. They trade downstairs.

CBS’ jab is sharp but Richard’s right hand a far more scary prospect and that layer of jeopardy will only intensify the more they exchange.

CBS Riakporhe R3

By persistently complaining about Riakporhe’s illegal tactics, CBS is giving the referee a decision to make – but will that allow him to momentarily switch off at the wrong time? We’ll wait and see.

Riakporhe lands a crowd-pleasing right but subsequent work is messy, before again being warned – this time for a low blow and shortly afterwards, leading with his head in the clinch.

Ring any bells? Lawrence Okolie is ringside, after all.

Billam-Smith lands some sneaky body punching to finish another scrappy round, packed with holding and frustration growing.

CBS Riakporhe R2

Billam-Smith begins the second round just as he finished the first, cunning work on the inside while Riakporhe looks to break space.

Referee ticks both off as CBS is unhappy with Riakporhe holding, then the champion absorbs two cuffing right hands as they exchange jabs in centre ring. A more cagey stanza, that one.

CBS Riakporhe R1

Here we go! A month shy of five years on from their first fight, the pair do battle again – both have improved since then, but who will show their mettle on the biggest stage here?

Billam-Smith begins as the aggressor, referee separates them as Riakporhe finds himself against the ropes – twice – then the challenger lands a stiff right hand which wobbles Billam-Smith.

Riakporhe tries maintaining distance with a few jabs, gets ticked off for illegal moves in the clinch as CBS’ dirty boxing works to the bell.

It’s almost time…

Billam-Smith in the ring, national anthem sung beautifully, now comes the fighter introductions. Repeat or revenge?

Glasner in the house

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner’s among the ringside audience enjoying the evening’s action at his new home – having taken charge of the south London club in February (W7, D3, L3).

Wonder who he’ll be back in this headliner, surely the hometown hero right? Riakporhe’s in the ring now, Billam-Smith coming shortly.

Whittaker wanted fun…

It was quickly obvious, but here’s the light-heavyweight prospect’s words after banking ten rounds on his biggest show yet.

He said: “I wanted the knock out – I was just having fun!”