Chris Billam-Smith Eyes Jai Opetaia Fight After Ryan Rozicki Victory

A long-discussed cruiserweight showdown could return to the table if Jai Opetaia misses out on other options

Chris Billam-Smith’s stoppage victory over Ryan Rozicki has renewed attention on a fight he has chased for more than a year against Jai Opetaia. With questions surrounding Opetaia’s next move, the former WBO champion may finally be closing in on the matchup.

The former WBO cruiserweight champion improved to 22-2 (14 KOs) with a seventh-round stoppage victory over Ryan Rozicki (21-2-1, 20 KOs) last Saturday at Bournemouth International Centre.

One option that refuses to disappear is a long-discussed clash with Jai Opetaia.

Opetaia is the opponent Billam-Smith has been chasing for more than a year. If the Australian is unable to secure a fight with David Benavidez, Billam-Smith could finally get the opportunity to test himself against the fighter many consider the No. 1 cruiserweight in the world.

However, Jordan questioned whether the matchup carries the same significance it once did.

“If we were to get Jai on the phone and say, ‘Do you want to fight Chris?’ It might be like, ‘Well, maybe not as much as I wanted to 12 months,'” journalist Jordan said on talkSPORT Boxing while discussing Billam-Smith’s future. “That was when Chris had a belt. That was when Jai had a belt.”

Jordan noted that both fighters were in stronger negotiating positions when the bout was first being discussed. At the time, Opetaia was pursuing undisputed status, while Billam-Smith held the WBO title.

The picture has since shifted. Billam-Smith lost his title to Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, while Opetaia relinquished the IBF belt earlier this year. Despite those changes, Opetaia remains The Ring cruiserweight champion and is still viewed by many as the division’s leading figure.

Whether the fight happens may ultimately depend on Benavidez’s next move. If the unbeaten American heads in another direction, Billam-Smith could still offer Opetaia a meaningful challenge and one of the more recognizable names available at cruiserweight.

The opportunity for Billiam-Smith would represent more than another payday. It would be a chance to prove that he can defeat the man widely regarded as the best cruiserweight on the planet.