RICHARD Riakporhe has secured a huge all-British WBO welterweight showdown against Chris Billam-Smith on June 15 at Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace Football Club.
Walworth’s Riakporhe (17-0, 13 KOs) inflicted the only defeat of his professional career on defending champion Billam-Smith in 2019.
“My time has come,” Riakporhe said. “The countdown is on. I’m the runaway ‘Midnight Train’ that you cannot stop and it’s the end of the line for Chris Billam-Smith. I can’t wait to knock Chris out and take his title. I’ve beaten him once and I’m ready to do it again. This time it’s not going to the judges. He’s going to be out cold on the canvas and the world title is going to be staying in south London.
“It’s going to be an incredible feeling to fight at Selhurst Park in front of the Palace fans and to be part of a special moment for the club celebrating 100 years since the stadium opened. I’m proud to be from south London and be affiliated with a club like Crystal Palace. The support of the club and the fans means everything to me. I’m going to repay that support with a devastating performance on June 15.”
‘The Gentleman’ Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) said: “I’m looking forward to giving the Bournemouth fans an away day to remember with an explosive performance, live on Sky Sports.
“Richard is a good fighter, but I’ve improved hugely since we last met and he’s going to be in for a terrible night at Selhurst Park. The WBO belt is coming back with me to Bournemouth.”
“We’re delighted to be working with Steve Parish and the team at Crystal Palace FC to deliver a historic night of boxing at Selhurst Park as part of the stadium’s centenary celebrations,” BOXXER CEO Ben Shalom said. “We have a huge main event with Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe going toe-to-toe for the WBO world cruiserweight title in this summer showdown.
“Chris Billam-Smith has huge support on the south coast, and we expect the AFC Bournemouth faithful to travel in huge numbers to support him as he puts his WBO world title on the line against the only man to beat him.
“It’s a dream come true for Richard Riakporhe as he gets his world title shot in front of his fellow Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park. With more big fight announcements to follow, this is the event in British boxing not to miss this summer.”
