Boxing

CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH kept hold of his WBO cruiserweight title after a dominant win over Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park.Billam-Smith first won the belt in the summer of 2023 when he beat Lawrence Okolie at his beloved AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium – and here he went into away territory to defend the strap against Crystal Palace fan Riakporhe, who had beat him in 2019.Earlier, Ben Whittaker impressed in a points win over Ezra Arenyeka and Jack Massey stunned Isaac Chamberlain to win the European cruiserweight title.What’s next?
Ben Shalom just co-signed a matchup against Zurdo, while it’ll be interesting to see where next for Riakporhe after falling short here.
CBS was asked, and said: “I thought it was 8-4 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS: 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.
Copy linkCopiedAND 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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!
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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!
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedCBS 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.
Copy linkCopiedIt’s almost time…
Billam-Smith in the ring, national anthem sung beautifully, now comes the fighter introductions. Repeat or revenge?
Copy linkCopiedGlasner 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.
Copy linkCopiedWhittaker 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!”

Copy linkCopiedOnly one more fight remains…
MAIN EVENT TIME! Chris Billam-Smith (c) vs. Richard Riakporhe follows shortly for the WBO cruiserweight world championship.
Ringwalks expected around 10.30pm after a promotional package, TV ad break and more besides as the atmosphere builds up again following, well, Whittaker’s uninspiring victory.
Copy linkCopiedWhittaker wins (shock!)
100-89, 99-90, 99-90 the scores after ten rounds banked.
As far as matchmaking is concerned, it’ll be interesting to see where they go with Ben next. Someone who can bring more from him is key.
Copy linkCopiedWhittaker vs Arenyeka R10
Final round!
Arenyeka’s wild forays forward continue, as Whittaker shuffles backwards happy to keep his distance and engage the crowd.
Whittaker threatens another late flurry as the ten-second signal goes, Arenyeka survives to hear the final bell. A slow, painful shutout.
Copy linkCopiedWhittaker vs Arenyeka R9
Even when Ezra lands clean, he overextends and gets excited far too early to warrant much of Whittaker’s respect in these exchanges.
They exchange in the pocket, the fan favourite still playing with his food, and the referee looks ready to step in if he sees even a sliver of Arenyeka fading.
Despite a fleeting moment up against the ropes, it doesn’t come and you know what that means…
Copy linkCopiedWhittaker vs Arenyeka R8
The best way to describe this scene right now is, watching Whittaker go through the gears and treat Arenyeka like a sparring partner.
Problem is, he’s stuck on gear two and doesn’t seem like he wants to raise that level. The intrigue has long disappeared, fans getting restless and we still have two more rounds!
Copy linkCopiedWhittaker vs Arenyeka R7
Okay, so I was wrong. This has lasted far too long!
Arenyeka gets a point deduction for an elbow in the clinch, but it doesn’t spark Whittaker into any sort of activity before the bell.

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