Chris Billam-Smith won’t fear a couple of potential battle with Richard Riakporhe when he has the damaging menace of Mateusz Masternak to take care of on Sunday.
Billam-Smith makes his first defence of the WBO cruiserweight world title towards Masternak on Sunday December 10, stay on Sky Sports activities.
The winner of this battle can count on Riakporhe, the No 1-ranked contender with the WBO, to be referred to as as a compulsory challenger.
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Talking on the Toe2Toe podcast, Riakporhe insists he can go one higher and get the knockout in a rematch with WBO cruiserweight champion Billam-Smith
Riakporhe served one other reminder of the menace 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 battle.
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.”
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Highlights of Riakporhe’s devastating win by TKO over Dylan Bregeon inside two rounds
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 mentioned.
“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 vitality dwelling on that chance when he is aware of he could have his palms full in his battle with Masternak on Sunday.
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Watch highlights of Mateusz Masternak’s convincing factors victory towards Adam Balski
“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 mentioned.
“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 degree of warning there in that sense. You may’t simply go gung-ho on somebody like that. He is very effectively rounded, he is at all times firing again. He is received good ft 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 Area from 6pm
