Despite having more obvious injuries than the other fighter on Saturday, Billam-Smith battled skillfully enough to secure a close victory at Selhurst Park.
In boxing, it’s usually the best strategy to win ugly, and Chris Billam-Smith did just that late on Saturday night at Selhurst Park in south London, where he maintained his world title.
Following 12 rounds of methodical mauling, holding, and astute boxing, Billam-Smith defeated Richard Riakporhe by a unanimous points decision to keep his WBO cruiserweight title. Though not always visually appealing, Billam-Smith’s work was astute.
Riakphore was the betting favourite, undefeated in 17 bouts with 13 knockouts, and had previously defeated Billam-Smith on points. Boxing is frequently about solving puzzles, and Billam-Smith just knew enough in the ring to escape too many clean Riakphore powerful right punches. It was frustrating for Riakphore at times.
Compared to the boxer who entered the ring an hour earlier, Riakphore was a stronger fighter when he departed. Furthermore, Billam-Smith is only becoming better and better.
By the end of the year, the Billam-Smith boxing tale may now make stops in Riyadh or Las Vegas. It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last, that Billam-Smith enters the game as the underdog and then carefully plans how to win. After twelve exhausting rounds, Riakphore was unmarked and appeared rather perplexed about what had happened 20 minutes later.
Riakphore can either go straight to heavyweight by letting his physique grow, or he can go to the new weight class of bridgerweight.
Holding, wrestling, and the odd instance of cleaner boxing characterised each round; Billam-Smith simply had the upper hand in exchanges, and there’s a good chance he won the majority of the close frames. Billam-Smith’s aim was to keep Riakphore from finding any rhythm at all and to deny him the space he was searching for. Like I said, it was not pretty, but it was clever.
Riakphore lost a point in the twelfth round for using his head excessively; this was not intentional, but it did happen frequently. In a competitive battle like this, it is only right that both boxers were permitted to hold; it is inane for the referee, Steve Grey, to stop the action every 20 seconds and issue repeated warnings for holding when both fighters were offending; instead, let them continue.
They can both punch, and desperate things can happen in title fights, so it was still exciting to watch. And they usually take place in bouts where more than just the title is at stake and where some history is involved. During the construction, Billam-Smith, also referred to as the “Gentleman,” and Riakphore were courteous to one another, but there was a great deal of hidden hostility. In 2019, Riakphore prevailed over Billam-Smith, but Billam-Smith was guided to the global title. Riakphore was, in a weird way, looking for payback. Evidence, if you will, that he ought to have been the one.
It appeared likely that Riakphore would tyre after roughly seven rounds, and in the final few, it appeared possible that Billam-Smith may sustain damage. Even though Billam-Smith won 10 of the 12 rounds, it was still difficult. There was always the chance of a late pause, a chance that the weariness of a real physical struggle might catch up with them.
The battle had worn both men out. In the final two rounds, there was true stress, and when the final bell rang, Billam-Smith’s corner was relieved. However, Riakphore was aware that he had only lost a few rounds, which may seem contradictory given his previous performance. Recall that a 12-round shutout can still occur with very small margins.
By the way, the scores—two of 115–111 and 116–111—were far too close. The right man prevailed, no one voiced complaints, and Riakphore is wise enough to not base his performance on the two closely contested scores.
After midnight at the empty Premier League pitch, Riakphore told me, “It’s not my first setback, and it will not be my last.” Billam-Smith deserves some huge paychecks and some respect now that he’s back and will be a stronger fighter. A true battle of pride took place on a chilly night at Selhurst Park under a half moon. A Saturday night in south London wasn’t too horrible.
