Chris Billam-Smith won’t fear a couple of potential combat with Richard Riakporhe when he has the harmful risk of Mateusz Masternak to cope with on Sunday.
Billam-Smith makes his first defence of the WBO cruiserweight world title in opposition to Masternak on Sunday December 10, stay on Sky Sports activities.
The winner of this combat can count on Riakporhe, the No 1-ranked contender with the WBO, to be known as as a compulsory challenger.
Riakporhe served one other reminder of the risk he poses when he took out Dylan Bregeon in simply two rounds final month. Bregeon had beforehand gone the complete 12 rounds with Billam-Smith in a European title combat.
However the Londoner’s most up-to-date efficiency made little impression on Billam-Smith.
“I think he has improved in some areas since we boxed but the last performance didn’t stand out in terms of anything special compared to other performances he’s had in the last two, three fights,” the Bournemouth man instructed Sky Sports activities.
“I’m aware of Richard’s strengths and his punch power and things like that. But I believe I’ve improved a lot more than he has since our first fight. That will be the telling factor if we ever boxed.”
Billam-Smith would welcome the possibility to avenge his solely professional defeat in a rematch with Riakporhe. However he factors out that after they fought, whereas he has gone on to win a world title, Riakporhe has not managed to take action.
“I thought it would make more sense to do it [a Riakporhe rematch] for a unification. For everyone’s sake, for my sake, for Richard’s sake, for Sky, for BOXXER, it would be a huge fight as a unification,” the WBO titlist stated.
“It’s still a big fight nonetheless. A bit of history there, so a fight down the line for sure.”
However Billam-Smith won’t waste a lot power dwelling on that chance when he is aware of he could have his arms full in his combat with Masternak on Sunday.
“He’s very good in all areas and he’s hard to put a dent in. Some people you can figure them out and know that you’ll get to them and hurt them at some point, but as far as I’m concerned I don’t think he’s ever been dropped as a pro,” Billam-Smith stated.
“When he got stopped by [Grigory] Drozd [in 2013] he got stopped on his feet and I don’t think he was dropped in that fight. It’s crazy to think that, in 52 fights. There’s not many people who go through their careers without getting dropped.
“There is a stage of warning there in that sense. You’ll be able to’t simply go gung-ho on somebody like that. He is very properly rounded, he is all the time firing again. He is bought good toes and good punch energy.
“It’s my hardest fight to date for sure.”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak on Sunday stay on Sky Sports activities Enviornment from 6pm