Chris Billam-Smith retains world title with victory in Richard Riakporhe rematch

Chris Billam-Smith efficiently defended his WBO world cruiserweight title with a convincing unanimous choice victory over Richard Riakporhe at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park.

The Gentleman avenged his 2019 break up choice defeat to Riakporhe, proving an excessive amount of for the London man of their rematch after a 116-111, 115-112, 115-112 ruling.

Bournemouth supporter Billam-Smith dug in away from house and prevented Riakporhe’s energy to be an element as he elevated himself into potential unification competition.

Billam-Smith hinted in battle week that coach Shane McGuigan had devised a plan for Riakporhe and that was clear within the first spherical. CBS refused to take a again step through the early exchanges, forcing Riakporhe on the again foot in a bid to suppress the ability in his proper hand.

Billam-Smith relished the shut encounters and took each alternative to tough Riakporhe up on the within. This strategy was in no way fairly, nevertheless it was efficient in disrupting his opponent’s rhythm as Riakporhe didn’t land any significant pictures by the tip of the second.

Riakporhe was nonetheless in first gear by the fourth. The south London man seemed shot of any momentum and his clinch-heavy ways started to sap the ambiance round Selhurst Park as he started to fall additional behind on the playing cards.

This continued into the halfway level of the battle with the referee having to separate the pair a number of occasions per spherical. The match-up resembled Billam-Smith’s title win towards Lawrence Okolie final Might the place Okolie’s clinching noticed him deducted factors on the night time.

With fatigue constructing it felt like Riakporhe’s probabilities have been fading. He started to swing his proper hand with little to no accuracy however a late flurry in spherical seven proved his most profitable interval of the bout.

The flurry developed into a high quality ninth spherical from the Midnight Prepare as he examined the champion’s chin with a number of energy pictures. Riakporhe compelled Billam-Smith onto the ropes with a straight proper which created the primary second of uncertainty for the Bournemouth man.

Riakporhe ran out of steam and he reverted again to his early unhealthy habits. This noticed him lastly deducted some extent within the twelfth which all however confirmed Billam-Smith’s deserved victory.