Billam-Smith Eyes WBC Title Shot After Ramirez Loss

Chris Billiam-Smith says he wants a world title shot next against WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelyan after losing a grueling 12-round unanimous decision defeat to Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez on November 16th in Riyadh.

Billiam-Smith (20-2, 13 KOs) hopes to capture the WBC belt, then face the winner of the unification fight between IBF champion Zurdo Ramirez and IBF champ Jai Opetaia.

If he ends up fighting Zurdo again, he’ll need to make drastic changes to his punch output because he was getting rivaled by the Mexican star, outworked, and beaten to a pulp.

“It’s likely that if Jai Opetaia comes through his next fight, then he’ll fight Zurdo [Ramirez] for three of the belts,” Billam-Smith said to BBC Sports about his plans.

“I’d love to fight the other champion [Noel Mikaelyan] and then take on the winner of that fight if it is possible. It’s got to be at World level, either for an eliminator or a world title.”

Billiam-Smith’s promoter will need to work a deal for him to fight WBC champ Mikaelyan, as that fight might not be realistic right now. Money talks.

“I was hitting him with real neat shots and just wasn’t getting any reaction from him and I was shocked at that.” Billam-Smith said about Gilberto Ramirez.  “We thought I’d be able to get to him and hurt him but it wasn’t to be.”

Billiam-Smith wasn’t landing enough shots to damage Ramirez because he was there to be hurt if he could increase his punch output.