Chris Billam-Smith ready to push Zurdo Ramirez to the limit, targets Jai Opetaia in 2025
A very intelligent man, WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith frequently has a look in his eye like he knows something you don’t. That was the case just days away from his unification clash against WBA counterpart Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, which takes place in Riyadh on November 16.
WATCH: Gilberto Ramirez vs. Chris Billam-Smith, live on DAZN
Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KOs) is the underdog, a role that the 34-year-old Englishman is accustomed to and openly welcomes. Against the odds in his most recent outing, the champ outpointed the highly rated Richard Riakporhe, who was the only man to have beaten him (on points) in a seven-year professional career.
“That was a satisfying result because of what happened in the first fight and with everyone writing me off,” Billam-Smith told The Sporting News. “Performance-wise, it was a decent enough performance. I could have done more in there, but I didn’t need to take any risks.
“I was a moving target the whole time. (Trainer) Shane [McGuigan] noticed that if someone moves their head a lot with Richard, he doesn’t really throw because he likes to hit a stationary target. If you keep moving and keep him guessing, you take his strengths away from him. The jab, the double jab worked well, and I always took a side after I’d finished my attacks.”
Despite tearing up the script against his old domestic rival, Billam-Smith heads into his second consecutive fight as an underdog. Zurdo is a two-weight world champion (super middleweight and cruiserweight) and his only loss in a fifteen-year professional career came against a pound-for-pound great.
“He’s a very, very good fighter,” acknowledged Billam-Smith with respect. “His record speaks for itself; 46 wins in 47 fights and his only loss was to Dmitry Bivol. He’s boxed some really good people; Arsen Goulamirian last time out who was a long-standing cruiserweight champion, super-tough and unbeaten.
“[Zurdo has] a lot of tools and it’s a tricky fight, for sure. I’ve only boxed one southpaw as a professional, but this is the first [world-class lefty]. It’s just another style. I’ve had a lot of good sparring with some of the English lads, then I worked with Joe Ward, who was one of the best amateurs in the world and is doing really well as a pro. He’s a light heavyweight, a really awkward southpaw who likes to use those southpaw attributes.”
One major difference between Billam-Smith and Zurdo is natural size. The Mexican star once campaigned down at middleweight and likely peaked during his two-year run as WBO super middleweight champion. The 33-year-old didn’t get much done at 175 pounds and his WBA title win over Arsen Goulamirian in March was his first fight against a fully-fledged cruiserweight.
“That was a really good performance and a good win,” acknowledged Billam-Smith. “[Zurdo] showed a lot in that fight: punch variety, good timing and toughness. Goulamarian is a big puncher and he had to take a few. He’s got to be pleased with that performance.
“What I bring is intensity, strength and the speed that goes with those attributes. You might have boxed fast guys that don’t have the power or the intensity that I have on the inside. A lot of times, fast guys are long punchers, but I can get in close at mid-to-short range and throw lots of shots. I’ve shown my work rate in the past, and anyone I fight feels that when they’re in there with me.”
While Billam-Smith has scored excellent wins during his career – he dethroned the previously unbeaten Lawrence Okolie to win his world title – the matchup with Zurdo ventures into uncharted territory and has a genuine superfight feel. This unification bout marks the first time that the Englishman will have fought outside the U.K. and it headlines a big Riyadh Season fight card.
“It brings more pressure, but I like Billy Jean King’s quote: ‘Pressure is a privilege,'” countered Billam-Smith. “Whenever I have that pressure and people are backing against me, that’s when I perform at my best. That’s how this fight feels; I’m an underdog again and you have his promoters, Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins, who I used to watch… they’ll be writing me off.
“I’ve prepared normally and when I get in the ring on fight night it’ll feel the same as any other fight and I’ll focus on what matters. All I have to do is focus on my performance and do all the things in fight week to make sure I perform on the night.”
If everything goes to plan, Billam-Smith will be looking to mop up at 200 pounds and that will not be an easy task. While the Bournemouth man was quick to label WBC boss Noel Mikaelyan “a very good champion”, the current division leader is unquestionably IBF and Ring Magazine titleholder Jai Opetaia. True to form, Billam-Smith is completely unfazed by the Australian’s fearsome reputation.
“Opetaia is the one everyone wants to see in the U.K.,” said the British boxer-puncher with a wry smile. “He’s boxed three Brits so far, but three guys that aren’t on my level. I’m sure I’d go in as an underdog because everyone thinks he’s unbeatable, but I’d love that fight after this one. That’s what I’d want next, but I have to focus on Saturday.”
WATCH: Latino Night, live on DAZN
If Billam-Smith can pull off a huge win over Zurdo, then he’d become the only reigning unified champion on British soil. He’d also be the first fighter to hold more than one cruiserweight title since former undisputed champ Oleksandr Usyk departed the division in 2018.
Many believe Zurdo’s ring savvy and southpaw stance will be too much for the English fighter who is hoping to be a huge party crasher on a card dubbed “Latino Night”. However, the WBO king once again had that familiar look in his eye before signing off.
“It’ll be a really good fight for the first four rounds, but I think I’ll get on top, take over, and take him out,” said Billam-Smith with intent. “With the way I fight and the shape I’m in, that’s just how I feel. I can push people to their limits and beyond them. From there, we’ll find how much he really wants it.”