Error code: %{errorCode}

Boxing

Chris Billam-Smith picks the harder fight out of Jai Opetaia and Richard Riakporhe

Chris Billam-Smith picks the harder fight out of Jai Opetaia and Richard RiakporheDAZN
The WBO cruiserweight champion returns to action on Sunday.

Ahead of his WBO world cruiserweight title defence against Mateusz Masternak, Chris Billam-Smith has revealed who he believes is the tougher fight of Jai Opetaia and Richard Riakporhe. 

Billam-Smith is now one of the world's best operators at 200lbs after beating fellow countryman Lawrence Okolie to claim the WBO belt earlier this year and is now being linked with some huge matchups in the future. 

Two names which have been mentioned are IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and another British rival in the form of Richard Riakporhe. 

There is a rivalry brewing between Billam-Smith and Riakporhe after the latter inflicted the first loss of "The Gentleman's" professional boxing career, but in an interview with Boxing News, Billam-Smith believes it is his fellow cruiserweight champion which poses a tougher test. 

"Richard’s obviously got great punch power, he’s got better punch power than Opetaia," Billam-Smith said. 

"But I think the rest of it, Opetaia is better. He moves his feet really well, good punch output, decent punch power still.

"I haven’t boxed many southpaws in my career so yeah, a new challenge in that sense, especially at the top level. But I think Opetaia’s a harder fight."

 

Watch on YouTube