Jai Opetaia Questions Chris Billam-Smith’s Timing After Title Loss

IBF cruiserweight champion says a unification fight was discussed while both fighters held belts

Jai Opetaia says Chris Billam-Smith missed the chance for a cruiserweight unification fight when both fighters held belts. The IBF champion told Sky Sports the fight was discussed but never finalized.

Opetaia said Billam-Smith chose a different route when the opportunity for a unification fight was available.

“He thought it was going to be an easier fight. He wanted to collect a belt before he fought me,” Opetaia said to Sky Sports. “He thought it would be easier. But now look.”

Billam-Smith later fought Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles in November 2024 and lost that fight, leaving Ramirez as the unified champion in the division.

Opetaia said the situation looks different now that Billam-Smith no longer holds a title.

“Don’t you think it’s crazy how I was trying to fight him for so long when he had the belt,” Opetaia said. “Now he doesn’t have a belt, now he wants to fight.”

Opetaia said he was ready for a unification fight when both fighters were champions and would still accept the fight if it were offered again.

“We had the opportunity to have a unification fight. We were always talking about it. I was ready,” Opetaia said.

The Australian also rejected suggestions that he carefully selects opponents during his career and said his approach has always been to accept the fights offered.

“I’ve never hand-picked a fight,” Opetaia said. “I legit just sit in the gym, train hard, and they call up and say you’re fighting him here, and I say done.”

Opetaia’s immediate focus remains on his upcoming fight with American contender Brandon Glanton this Sunday, March 8th, as he continues his attempt to collect the remaining cruiserweight titles.