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Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe are role to fulfill in an all-British showdown for the WBO world cruiserweight championship on June 15 at Selhurst Park, the home of Crystal Palace FC, continue to exist Sky Sports.
Defending champion Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) will likely be having a search to avenge his simplest profession defeat when he makes the 2nd defence of his WBO title in opposition to substantial-punching south Londoner and Palace fan Riakporhe (17-0, 13 KOs).
Billiam-Smith, identified as ‘The Gentleman’, captured the WBO crown in Could perchance presumably merely 2023 with a memorable score over weak stablemate Lawrence Okolie, downing the undefeated champion thrice en route to having his hand raised in entrance of his home fans at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth.
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Glimpse the finest moments from Richard Riakporhe’s score over Chris Billam-Smith by split decision in 2019
“I’m having a search forward to giving the Bournemouth fans an away day to remember with an explosive efficiency, continue to exist Sky Sports,” acknowledged Billam-Smith. “Richard is a upright fighter, but I’ve improved massively since we last met and he’s going to be in for a ugly evening at Selhurst Park. The WBO belt is coming aid with me to Bournemouth.”
Riakporhe will score his long-awaited shot at world honours in entrance of his fellow ‘Eagles’ as he fights at the home of his beloved Palace.
‘The Midnight Prepare’ is the finest man to abet a score over Billam-Smith within the professional ranks. The pair first squared off at the O2 Enviornment in July 2019 for the WBA Intercontinental title, with Riakporhe awarded a split decision victory.
“My time has advance,” acknowledged Riakporhe. “The countdown is on. I’m the runaway ‘Midnight Prepare’ which which you might well no longer discontinue and it be the cease of the line for Chris Billam-Smith. I cannot wait to knock Chris out and preserve end his title. I’ve overwhelmed him once and I’m ready to invent it once more. This time it be no longer going to the judges. He goes to be out wintry on the canvas and the sphere title goes to be staying in south London.
“It be going to be an inconceivable feeling to fight at Selhurst Park in entrance of the Palace fans and to be piece of a sure 2nd for the membership celebrating 100 years for the rationale that stadium opened. I’m proud to be from south London and be affiliated with a membership admire Crystal Palace. The pork up of the membership and the fans methodology every thing to me. I might repay that pork up with a devastating efficiency on June 15.”
Fans attending the colossal ‘GAME ON!’ hiss will likely be piece of historical past as boxing returns to Selhurst Park in its centenary one year.
The legend Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe conflict kicks off a colossal summer of world-class sport with a blockbuster evening of world championship boxing and celebrations, with undercard fights to be published within the arriving days.
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Highlights of Chris Billam-Smith’s stoppage score over Mateusz Masternak to abet his world title
“We’re contented to be working with Steve Parish and the crew at Crystal Palace FC to ship a ancient evening of boxing at Selhurst Park as piece of the stadium’s centenary celebrations,” acknowledged Boxxer founder and CEO Ben Shalom. “We now like a colossal most foremost match with Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe going toe-to-toe for the WBO world cruiserweight title in this summer showdown.
“Chris Billam-Smith has colossal pork up on the south fly, and we set up a matter to of the AFC Bournemouth dedicated to hasten in colossal numbers to pork up him as he locations his WBO world title on the line in opposition to the finest man to beat him. It be a dream advance honest accurate for Richard Riakporhe as he will get his world title shot in entrance of his fellow Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park. With extra substantial fight bulletins to put together, here’s the match in British boxing no longer to head away out this summer.”
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Highlights of Richard Riakporhe’s devastating score by TKO over Dylan Bregeon inside of two rounds
A percentage of every worth supplied will likely be donated to the Palace For Existence Foundation, the official charity of Crystal Palace FC, which has been working with the community for over 25 years, helping children grow thru the energy of sport, attractive them to fetch a wiser direction in lifestyles and to steer a extra wholesome lifestyles.
“We are totally contented that professional boxing is returning to Selhurst Park, with thought to be one of south London’s have and substantial Palace fan, Richard Riakporhe, main the billing alongside Chris Billam-Smith,” acknowledged Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish.
“Boxxer like set up together an even line-up for the occasion, and it already promises to be a spectacular evening in SE25 – as wisely as a fitting tribute to our stadium’s centenary one year.”
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