- Chris Billam-Smith has won his last 10 fights.  
- Richard Riakporhe has a 17-0 record with 13 knockouts.
- Recommended bet: Chris Billam-Smith to win

WBO world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith has a chance to avenge the only blemish on his record on Saturday as he takes on Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park.

The pair first met in 2019 in what was both fighters’ 10th professional outing. Billam-Smith survived a knockdown as he beat the count in the seventh round and reached the final bell, but was on the wrong side of a split decision.

Riakporhe has kept his unbeaten record intact since and comes into Saturday’s rematch with a 17-0 record, including 13 victories inside the distance. 

Billam-Smith went on to become British and European cruiserweight champion before claiming the WBO world title, and now holds a 19-1 record with 13 stoppages. 

The stats

Chris Billam-Smith is 10-0 since his loss to Riakporhe five years ago and has recorded three stoppage victories in his last five fights.

Riakporhe has won his last five fights inside the distance.

The Midnight Train’s last fight was in November as he stopped Dylan Bregeon in the second round. 

Prediction

Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe face off in a rematch — five years after their first meeting as unbeaten up-and-coming cruiserweights — in London on Saturday in what looks set to be an entertaining affair.

Riakporhe won the first showdown via a split decision and he very nearly claimed a KO. Billam-Smith was knocked down in the seventh round and the referee began a count, but he managed to recover and reach the final bell at the end of the 10th round.

In the intervening years it is Billam-Smith who has enjoyed the greater success, however, as he picked up the British and European titles before overcoming Laurence Okolie to land the WBO world title.

Riakporhe took a two-year break from boxing but has still managed seven fights since his victory over Smith. The Midnight Train is clearly the more powerful puncher of these two fighters and he has stopped his last five opponents inside the distance, but CBS has faced a higher standard of opposition.

Billam-Smith does have a tendency to leave himself open at times and Riakporhe’s knockout power is an obvious weapon, but The Gentleman is the more complete fighter and looks a very backable underdog here.

The first fight was close and one judge gave it to CBS despite the knockdown. Billam-Smith has clearly improved in the years since, whereas Riakporhe perhaps has not faced the same kinds of tests and relies heavily on his power. As such, the champion can ensure he keeps hold of his belt by outboxing Riakporhe and denying him the chance to land one of his explosive shots.  

Back Chris Billaim-Smith to win at 19/10 with LiveScore Bet