NEWS: CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH WANTS JAI OPETAIA, ILUNGA MAKABU-BADOU JACK WINNER

By: Jay Calderon‍

There is potentially an interesting rivalry brewing at 200 pounds between world champion Jai Opetaia and hard-hitting contender Chris Billam-Smith.
 
In his last few fights, Bournemouth, England's Billam-Smith has been steadily climbing the rankings, moving into the number three position within the standings of the IBF, the organization for which Opetaia is champion. With the ranking and a solid following at home, Billam-Smith is hoping to secure a title shot at his local football club's stadium some time soon.

Initially, according to Billam-Smith, he was under the impression Opetaia was willing to face him in England, where the money for the contest would be greater than in Jai's native Australia. However, it seems Opetaia may have changed his mind.

Opetaia, while not directly addressing Billam-Smith, recently tweeted that he wasn't afraid of any fighter, and welcomed any and all challengers...to face him in Australia.

"If you want it, then come to Australia and fucking get it and stop talking shit! I duck absolutely no one! No surgery or injury is gunna hold me back, it's just a matter of time. I'm the king of this division." Opetaia tweeted.

Billam-Smith, being interviewed this past weekend by iFL TV at the Adam Azim-Santos Reyes event, said he isn't sure what Opetaia wants exactly. However, Chris stated that he owes it to his followers to try his best to get the fight staged in Bournemouth.

"Look, my fanbase is here in [Bournemouth]. They would be very disappointed if I have to go to Australia to win a world title," Billam-Smith stated.

"It's a business," he continued "The money is over here, and we've been building it. So, I don't know what's going on with him, I'm hearing different stories all the time. One minute he's injured, one minute he's got a fight lined up. Then he wants to fight over here, then he wants to fight over there."

Regardless of whether the Opetaia-CBS fight materializes, Billam-Smith seems locked in and ready to step up to the biggest challenges at Cruiserweight. If Opetaia won't come to the table, Chris would be interested in the winner of the clash between 200 pound titlest Ilunga Makabu and former world titlist Badou Jack, scheduled for February 26.

"We know my plan. Whether Jai's a part of that plan, we'll see, but we're trying to get a stadium fight down in Bournemouth for a world title. If that can be him, then great. If not, then obviously we've got Badou Jack fighting Makabu in a couple of weeks. Maybe we can get [the winner]. But my fanbase has been too good to me to let them down now," Billam-Smith suggested.

To be honest, I do hope Opetaia-CBS happens. Since his breakthrough performance against Mairis Briedis, Opetaia has seemed to be missing. While he suffered a nasty injury to his jaw in that encounter back in July of last year, you would hope he had something meaningful lined up. Billam-Smith seems like the perfect opponent. While certainly tough and a fighter that can bang, Opetaia has to view Chris as a winnable fight. And a fight that brings a decent purse along with it.

On the flip side, if you're Billam-Smith and riding the biggest wave of your career to date, now is the time to strike. Some might underrate Billam-Smith, but he's in form and potentially challenging a champion off the back of an injury-inducing contest. Your time might be now.

Regardless, I hope the fight gets made.

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