Consultants and pundits have their say forward of Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe’s conflict for the WBO cruiserweight world title at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium on Saturday.
Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe collide in one of many greatest all-British fights of the 12 months on Saturday with followers in a position to tune in to look at a bumper undercard from 6.30 pm reside on Sky Sports activities or stream instantly with NOW.
Johnny Nelson (Former WBO cruiserweight champion):
“Richard Riakporhe stops Chris Billam-Smith inside the gap. The one factor we will doubt is, can he go to the nicely and dig deep when there’s nothing there?
“We have seen Chris Billam-Smith do it. We have not seen it from Richard Riakporhe, as a result of he isn’t needed to do it, and so if he has to dig deep, that is if you suppose: ‘oh my goodness.’ That is the place you favour Chris Billam-Smith. However I believe Richard Riakporhe, now could be the time he is acquired to shine. Now’s the time [for] a career-best and a career-best ought to do the job.”
Barry Jones (Former world champion):
“I do make Billam-Smith the favorite. Simply from expertise, coping with the strain. I believe he’s a greater fighter than he was, as Riakporhe is.
“However the exercise and the not being afraid to be in vary of a shot. He is conscious that he has to take that educated threat. Eating out in your chin is a fear however he understands that he must be in that vary to land his personal photographs. I believe he is keen to decide to that.
“I simply suppose he is a better fighter total than after they first met. Riakporhe, despite the fact that I believe he is neater than he was, in the end it is going to boil all the way down to how a lot he can land with that proper hand and that left hook, and I simply really feel like Billam-Smith will have the ability to stunt that distance and have extra success.”
Jack Massey (Has boxed each):
“It is a robust one. It is a very robust one. I’ve form of been flitting between the 2. I am swaying in the direction of Riakporhe. Only a bit extra energy, a bit stronger and simply going off Billam-Smith’s final efficiency [against Mateusz Masternak], that is what I am going off.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Chris Billam-Smith says he’ll be prepared for no matter Richard Riakporhe brings on struggle night time and believes he’ll win by knockout.
Spencer Oliver (Former European champion):
“I believe each guys have developed loads since that first struggle. They have been at the start phases of their careers in that first struggle.
“Chris Billam-Smith has had that 10-fight unbeaten run since that struggle again in 2019 and he is confirmed he is robust. He goes to that place in a struggle the place it isn’t simple to show it round and he is proven that championship materials by displaying that high quality to have the ability to flip it round. We have not seen that of Richard Riakporhe but.
“Richard’s unbeaten and acquired himself into that necessary place. His growth’s been barely totally different however what Richard’s gained from the primary struggle that he by no means had is the truth that he believes in himself. With Richard in that first struggle, despite the fact that he gained the struggle, he by no means believed in himself. You would see that in his efficiency the place he would not fairly step in, was slightly bit tense. He is now at that stage the place he does imagine in himself.
“And that is why I lean in the direction of Riakporhe to win this contest.”
Duke McKenzie (Former three-weight world champion)
“It is a good struggle and that is what the group are right here to see and that is what they’ll see. It may be explosive as a result of they’ve already acquired historical past collectively.
“I might lean in the direction of Riakporhe just because I believe he’d be the extra improved of the 2. I do not suppose Billam-Smith can change. I believe as soon as he will get hit, Billam-Smith… for me, he is slightly bit too flat-footed, there’s not sufficient head motion and he does not depend on his boxing skill, he needs to struggle.
“If he may change his sport slightly bit, he’d stand a greater likelihood of successful. Smarts win fights and I simply suppose Riakporhe goes to be slightly bit too good for him.”
Matt Christie (Main boxing journalist):
“That is an exceptionally tough struggle to name, very similar to the primary time they met. Since then, each have unquestionably improved but it’s the degree to which Billam-Smith has risen that makes his trajectory steeper.
“Consequently, given Billam-Smith’s superior expertise, each on the world stage and in 12-round championship fights, I lean in the direction of him edging out Riakporhe on factors.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Johnny Nelson questions who’ll come out on prime as Chris Billam-Smith prepares to defend his WBO World Cruiserweight Title in opposition to Richard Riakporhe on Saturday.
Ellie Scotney (IBF & WBO bantamweight world champion):
“If you examine the fighters who shared the ring all these years in the past, if you examine their careers, the most effective fighter on Richard’s report is Chris by a rustic mile.
“You take a look at Chris, you look who he is boxed – Lawrence Okolie, who was the bogeyman of the division, nobody needed to the touch him however he hits very onerous. Chris has a method to at all times discover a method to win. I believe the depth and the tenacity, he’ll break Richard down the longer stretch, so I am backing a Billam-Smith stoppage win.
“We see the most effective of Chris when nobody believes in him and his again is in opposition to the wall, and I believe he’ll shut folks up on Saturday.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Richard Riakporhe says he does not play thoughts video games and is worked up to get to work in opposition to Chris Billam-Smith.
Bradley Skeete (Former British champion)
“I will go along with Riakporhe. It is all arrange for him; Crystal Palace, his dwelling city, I believe he’ll come by means of with a late stoppage.
“I like Billam-Smith loads, he is an important champion, I want him all the most effective, however I will go along with Riakporhe for this one. I believe Riakporhe will probably be impressed by the house crowd. Chris is at all times in Bournemouth, the help he will get there’s unbelievable, it could possibly be the identical for Richard.”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith defend his WBO cruiserweight world title in opposition to Richard Riakporhe at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, reside on Sky Sports activities on Saturday June 15; Ben Whittaker and Dan Azeez function on the undercard. You can also stream the event through NOW TV.