Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch (2024)

Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe collide in one of the biggest all-British fights of the year this Saturday - here's all you need to know ahead of their cruiserweight world title showdown.

When is the Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe fight?

Riakporhe will challenge Billam-Smith for the WBO cruiserweight world title in the main event on Saturday June 15, with fans able to tune in to watch a bumper undercard from 6.30pm live on Sky Sports Action or stream instantly with NOW.

Where is the Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe fight taking place?

Billam-Smith enjoyed the outburst of support from his home fans when he dethroned former world champion Lawrence Okolie at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium last year. Now it is the turn of Riakporhe to soak up the love of his south London faithful when he welcomes Billam-Smith to Selhurst Park, the home of his team Crystal Palace.

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Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch (1)

What to know about both fighters?

Billam-Smith arrives as defending WBO cruiserweight world champion having clinched the belt by beating Okolie via majority decision after flooring the Londoner three times in Bournemouth back in May 2023. He has since retained the title by beating Mateusz Masternak following the Polish fighter's eighth-round retirement in December.

Riakporhe comes in as the challenger with a perfect record to his name having stopped each of his last five opponents, most recently knocking out Dylan Bregeon in the second round in November.

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Chris Billam-Smith stats

  • Age: 33
  • Height: 6ft 3in
  • Total fights: 20
  • Record: 19-1 (13 KOs)

Richard Riakporhe stats

  • Age: 34
  • Height: 6ft 5in
  • Total fights: 17
  • Record: 17-0 (13 KOs)

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Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch (3)

Where does the rivalry come from?

There is history there. Riakporhe famously handed Billam-Smith the only defeat of his professional career to date when he edged a split-decision victory at The O2 in July 2019.

Billam-Smith has since regularly disputed the decision, with the judges scoring the fight 97-92, 95-94 and 93-96 in favour of Riakporhe.

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While it has served as a prominent talking point during the build-up, both men have played down suggestions their first fight will hold any influence heading into Saturday.

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Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch (4)

Who is on the undercard?

The Ben Whittaker show resumes as the Olympian encounters surprise challenger Ezra Arenyeka, who made a name for himself by gatecrashing his opponent's press conference ahead of his last fight against Leon Willings. In doing so the undefeated Arenyeka talked his way to a shot against rising star Whittaker, who is looking to send a message to any fighter thinking of doing the same thing.

Whittaker is 7-0 as a professional following his unanimous-decision win over Willings in March, while Arenyeka enters 12-0.

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Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch (5)

Dan Azeez (20-1, 13 KOs) returns to action for the first time since February's unanimous decision loss to Joshua Buatsi when he fights Hrvoje Sep (12-2).

Isaac Chamberlain (16-2, 8 KOs) will face Jack Massey (21-2) for the vacant European and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles in an all-English clash after intended opponent Michal Cieslak was forced to withdraw through injury.

Francesca Hennessy (3-0) also continues her rise to stardom, with the 19-year-old bantamweight prospect having emerged as one of the most exciting talents in boxing.

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Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch (6)

What has been said?

Chris Billam-Smith:

"If there's more pressure on me then brilliant. I said that last year there was no more pressure in my career than that fight [against Okolie]. I loved it and I loved the pressure, and for me there's this huge amount of pressure on me in this fight because there's a legacy at stake.

"Me and Richard are the last two of the current crop of cruiserweights. Richard is the last one on the current British cruiserweight hitlist and I've just got to get over the line.

"I think he's a massive step from where he's been in terms of headlining, the type of opponent, the experience that his opponents have had in the past and where they're at in their career.

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Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch (7)

"This is a very hungry version of me. I'm a much better fighter than I was last time, that's for sure, and much better than anyone he's faced. I think it's a big, big leap in levels.

"He thought he knew who I was, but in the last 18 months, I'm a completely different animal. The confidence has come on in leaps and bounds since we last fought, I'm a dangerous man and everyone knows that."

Richard Riakporhe:

"He's got one loss on the record, on his impressive record. I'm just going to do it again, that's the plan. I need to double that number, that's the aim, that's my goal.

"What makes it so much better and tantalising is that there's a world title belt on the line. I have the confidence already because I beat him already. But because this world title's on the line, I feel like I'm just ready to go to another place.

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Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch (8)

"I want to put on a performance that cannot be questioned. People are going to know the difference between me and 'The Gentleman'. There's a big difference. I believe that I'm a level above.

"I do believe that power is enough to deal with Chris Billam-Smith. My power in particular is enough to deal with him. No matter whether he's winning rounds or not. I just need to land the correct shot and he's gone.

"I'm going for the KO, that's all I want to do. Chris Billam-Smith has made a big mistake. He's going to be looking back 20 years from now, regretting taking this fight and I'm going to still be visiting him in his dreams like Freddy Krueger."

Watch Chris Billam-Smith defend his WBO cruiserweight world title against Richard Riakporhe at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park, live on Sky Sports on Saturday June 15; Ben Whittaker and Dan Azeez feature on the undercard. You can also stream the event through NOW TV.

Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch (2024)

FAQs

Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe: Start time, undercard, how to watch? ›

When is the Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe fight? Riakporhe will challenge Billam-Smith for the WBO

WBO
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is an organization which sanctions professional boxing bouts.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › World_Boxing_Organization
cruiserweight world title in the main event on Saturday June 15, with fans able to tune in to watch a bumper undercard from 6.30pm live on Sky Sports Action or stream instantly with NOW.

How to watch Billam-Smith v. Riakporhe? ›

Fight Night LIVE! - watch on Sky Sports Action
  1. Chris Billam-Smith defends WBO cruiserweight world title against Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park.
  2. Coverage begins at 6.30pm; main event ring walk expected from 9.45pm, Ben Whittaker to ring walk around 9pm.
  3. Billam-Smith on Riakporhe mental battle: I win every face-off!
7 hours ago

What time is the Chris Billam-Smith ring walk? ›

Ringwalk times

For the Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe main event, ringwalks will be from 9.45pm. Ben Whittaker's ringwalk for his light-heavyweight contest with Ezra Arenyeka is expected around 9pm on Saturday night.

Where is Billam-Smith's fight tonight? ›

Where is the Billam-Smith vs. Riakporhe fight tonight? The fight will take place at Selhurst Park in London, England.

What channel is the Billam-Smith fight on? ›

Coverage begins on Sky Sports Action from 6pm BST and Sky Sports Main Event at 9pm. Live stream: The Sky Go app will offer a live stream service online to those with a Sky Sports subscription.

How to watch Riakporhe? ›

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch and stream Chris Billam-Smith versus Richard Riakporhe through Sky Sports and the Sky Go app. To sign up for Sky Sports, visit the satellite provider's website and follow the set-up instructions to purchase or activate your account.

What time is Billam-Smith v. Riakporhe? ›

Riakporhe will challenge Billam-Smith for the WBO cruiserweight world title in the main event on Saturday June 15, with fans able to tune in to watch a bumper undercard from 6.30pm live on Sky Sports Action or stream instantly with NOW.

Where was the Ali Frazier fight? ›

Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali, billed as The Fight of the Century or simply The Fight, was an undisputed heavyweight championship boxing match between WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and Lineal champion Muhammad Ali, on Monday, March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

How can I watch the misfit boxing show? ›

Misfits Boxing 14 is being shown exclusively on DAZN and a standard subscription to the streaming service currently costs £14.99 a month, granted users sign up on fixed 12-month contract.

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Where to Watch Dalton Smith vs. Jose Zepeda. This fight will be available to view in over 200 countries with DAZN.

What time is Billam-Smith vs. Riakporhe? ›

When is the Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe fight? Riakporhe will challenge Billam-Smith for the WBO cruiserweight world title in the main event on Saturday June 15, with fans able to tune in to watch a bumper undercard from 6.30pm live on Sky Sports Action or stream instantly with NOW.

What channel is the boxing on tonight in the UK? ›

Watch the best boxers in the world go head to head on Sky Sports every week.

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