Jai Opetaia Calls Out WBO Champ Chris Billam-Smith!
Reigning IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (23-0, 18 KOs) is a fighter burning to prove he’s the best cruiserweight in the world. Given that ambition, he’s looking for a unification contest and has his sights set on a battle with WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith (18-1, 12 KOs).
READY TO UNIFY
Opetaia is coming off an impressive third-round stoppage over Jordan Thompson on September 30 in London, England. Following his victory, the IBF champion was clear about what he’s looking to do moving forward.
“I come here to earn respect, not disrespect. Chris Billam-Smith, I’d love to make that fight happen. I want that WBO wrapped around my waist.”
Opetaia is serious about wanting to fight the WBO champion, as he doubled down on his callout with the following post on social media:
SHARED INTEREST
Smith was ringside for Opetaia’s fight with Thompson. The WBO champion told the media he’s more than open to a unification fight with the IBF champion.
If there’s a fight with some sizeable earning potential at cruiserweight, it’s a clash between Opetaia and Billam-Smith. But the question is, where would that potential bout take place? Opetaia is adamant that he wants to establish himself as a household name and a star in his home country of Australia. He would love to fight Billam-Smith in the Land Down Under.
The WBO champion would argue that, from a financial perspective, the fight would make the most sense in his home country of Great Britain. Where that potential fight lands would be determined by who wins a negotiating battle between Team Opetaia and Team Billam-Smith
No one has established themselves as the face of the division. A showdown between the two champions would go a long way in determining who sits at the top of the mountain at cruiserweight. With both parties expressing equal interest, look for talks to heat up by the end of the year to make this a reality at some point in 2024.
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