Boxing
Richard Riakporhe gives his side of failed Chris Billam-Smith rematch
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Richard Riakporhe is insistent that he is willing to make a rematch with Chris Billam-Smith despite suggestions from the Commonwealth cruiserweight champion that he ducked a second fight.
Speaking after his win against Armend Xhoxhaj on the weekend in Bournemouth, Billam-Smith wondered if Riakporhe had turned down a rematch because he did not want to face a hostile crowd on the South Coast.
Riakporhe beat the 32-year-old fighter in 2019 by split decision, and since then both men have gone undefeated, with both of them impressing sufficiently to be linked with world title fights.
However, Riakporhe said he was confident he would win any second fight.Â
"It would be terrible for me to be turning down fights. I can beat him better next time," he told the BBC.
Discussing a rematch, he added: "We tried to make that fight for January, but it fell through.
"They probably want to do it big and everyone has their reasons."
Their promoter, Ben Shalom, believes letting them focus on world titles would see them produce a more attractive fight if they could stay a unification bout.
"They've both come on leaps and bounds now and are bordering on world title level both in their own right, but I think a rematch is a bigger fight," Riakporhe said.
"However, Chris Billam-Smith does deserve a world-title opportunity and he'll get what he wants but it'll definitely be outdoors in Bournemouth next year."
