RICHARD Riakporhe and Chris Billam-Smith are both insisting they will knock the other out in their highly anticipated WBO cruiserweight showdown this weekend.
Walworth’s Riakporhe, 33, is challenging Bournemouth’s Billam-Smith, 33, for his belt at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park. It is the first time in his career ‘The Midnight Train’ Riakporhe is fighting for a world title, while it is a second defence for ‘The Gentleman’ Billam-Smith.
Unbeaten Riakporhe (17-0; 13 KOs) handed Billam-Smith (20-1; 13 KOs) his only professional defeat, in the O2 in 2019.
“I see me getting the job done inside the distance, 100 per cent,” Billam-Smith said on Sky Sports. “I think it is too big a step for him. His last fight was in a small arena, he hasn’t headlined in a while so it’s a massive step, the levels in ability is a huge step as well.”
Riakporhe didn’t agree.
He said: “I don’t believe him, he’s never said that until now. They all say that, it always turns out to be the wrong prediction.
“I believe I’ll knock this guy out.
“I’ve improved so much [since the 2019 fight], it’s going to show, it’s shown already in my fights.
“I look back at fights at domestic level and people were like, ‘he won’t win the British title, he will not go nowhere near the European title’. You can see my trajectory, it speaks for itself, I’m here fighting for a world title.
“I always prove the doubters wrong. I have what it takes to do not just this, a number on CBS, but way more.”
Meanwhile, a row broke out over who should be in the home dressing room. Billam-Smith said: “My team have done their job, we’ve got champion’s rights, champion gets home dressing room – it looks nice in there.”
The fight is this Saturday (June 15) and is live on Sky Sports.
