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Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe 2 Predictions & Tips – Riakporhe To Win First World Title

Leigh Copson

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Last updated: 11 Jun 2024

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Leigh Copson 11 Jun 2024

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Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe 2 tips for Saturday, June 15
World title fight is taking place at Selhurst Park in London, England
Who will leave with the WBO cruiserweight world title?

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Richard Riakporhe (Getty Images)

Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe 2 Predictions & Tips

Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe 2 Predictions & Tips
Head To Head
Chris Billam-Smith Form
Richard Riakporhe Form

Chris Billam-Smith vs Richard Riakporhe 2 Predictions & Tips

Richard Riakporhe is tipped to win the WBO cruiserweight title.

Riakporhe has improved since the first meeting and now pairs skill with his fight-stopping power.

He has shown that combination to devastating effect in recent fights, and we expect more of the same here.

Richard Riakporhe boasts a perfect 17-0 professional record
13 of Riakporhe’s 17 victories have been via knockout
Richard Riakporhe has won his last five fights via stoppage
Chris Billam-Smith’s only career loss was against Richard Riakporhe

Head To Head

Richard Riakporhe won by split decision when the two men fought in July 2019

Chris Billam-Smith Form

Chris Billam-Smith is the defending WBO world cruiserweight champion with a record of 19-1 (13 KOs).

Billam-Smith has rebounded from his first career loss with a 10-fight win streak that has propelled him to the top of the cruiserweight tree.

That split decision loss was against his opponent on Saturday, Richard Riakporhe, back in July 2019, but he put that behind him with a fifth-round stoppage of Craig Glover to win the Commonwealth title.

He then knocked out Nathan Gorley in two rounds and beat Vasil Ducar on points, before adding the European and British titles with a split decision victory over Tommy McCarthy.

Billam-Smith’s streak continued with another points win, this time against Dylan Bregeon, and that was followed by an eighth-round stoppage of Tommy McCarthy in their rematch.

He then made one more defence of the European and Commonwealth crowns, beating Isaac Chamberlain on points, before setting his sights on a world title fight.

The 33-year-old secured that shot with a fifth round knockout of Armend Xhoxhaj, and claimed the WBO belt with a majority decision victory over Lawrence Okolie.

Billam-Smith made one successful defence of the title before the end of 2023, stopping Mateusz Masternak in the eighth round.

Richard Riakporhe Form

Richard Riakporhe enters the first world title fight of his career boasting a perfect 17-0 record, with 13 wins coming via knockout.

Riakporhe earned his first minor title in his eighth career outing, beating Sam Hyde via an eight-round knockout to claim the WBA inter-continental title.

He successfully defended that belt with a fourth-round knockout of Tommy McCarthy, before edging a split decision win over the man he faces on Saturday night, Chris Billam-Smith.

The 34-year-old Londoner then claimed the British title in his next fight, beating Jack Massey via unanimous decision.

Riakporhe’s streak continued with a unanimous decision win over Kryzsztof Twardowski, and he then stopped Olanrewaju in the fifth round to win the vacant WBC silver cruiserweight title.

That victory sparked a run of five straight stoppage victories that have earned him this world title fight.

‘The Midnight Train’ fought twice in 2022, knocking out Deion Jurnah in the eighth round and Fabio Turchi in the second round.

Riakporhe then took two fights in 2023, finishing Krzysztof Glowacki inside four rounds before knocking out Dylan Bregeon in the second.

Verdict

Chris Billam-Smith v Richard Riakporhe 2

Richard Riakporhe has been on a tear over the past couple of years.

He has ruthlessly dispatched his last five opponents and is now backed to better his split decision win over Chris Billam-Smith in July 2019, winning the rematch via stoppage.

Riakporhe by KO/TKO

Method Of Victory

@7/4 - 5 Units

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Riakporhe Rounds 7-12

Round Group Betting

@15/4 - 1 Unit

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

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