Chris Billam-Smith turned down “life-changing money” to box Jai Opetaia earlier this year so he could beat him when he fights.
Opetaia is the reigning IBF cruiserweight world champion, while WBO titlist Billam-Smith of Bournemouth is hoping to prove he is the best fighter in the division.
Billam-Smith believes he will eventually clash with Australia’s Opetaia.
But first he faces WBA world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in a fierce unification match on Saturday. sky sports.
The Briton could have boxed Opetaia earlier this year in October, but instead chose to unify Ramirez.
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Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya has suggested that former heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk could fight the winner of Gilberto Ramirez vs. Chris Billam-Smith.
“The problem with the Opetaya offer is… they said it was October 12th and they were offering it for 10 weeks and that was enough time to camp. That said, I have been in the US on family holidays for three years – Semi-major.” Billam-Smith said. sky sports.
“It would have been a five to six week camp for the unification fight,” the WBO champion explained. “They (said): ‘It’s life-changing money.’ It’s not about that. It’s about winning and doing your best.
“I’ve been a professional my whole career in terms of how I deal with camp and do everything right, so I didn’t want to shortcut it for anyone, whether it was an easy fight or a tough fight.
“I don’t want to shorten the camp just because I have more money. I get criticized either way. I get criticized for not fighting because it’s ridiculous money, and I get criticized for shortening the camp. And then I take the money.
“I’ve always played the long game and I’ve always been prepared for the opportunities that come my way, and like I said, I don’t want to cut camp short for anyone.”
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Trainer Shane McGuigan responds to Gilberto Ramirez’s coach Malik Scott’s comments that the Mexican is of a higher standard than Chris Billam-Smith.
He is confident that the Opetaia fight will happen.
“The fight I have against Opetaia is the fight that’s talked about in the division. Everyone sees it as No. 1 and No. 2. I want that fight to happen after my next fight,” Billam-Smith said. “That seems ideal to me.
He added: “Every champion is a very respected champion.” “’Zurdo is next. I think very highly of him.”
The future fight with Opetaia will not overwhelm Billam-Smith. Despite the Australian impressing with wins over Mairis Briedis, Jack Massey and others.
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Shane McGuigan looks to capture the moment with his fighter Chris Billam as he looks to add the WBA cruiserweight world title to his collection when he takes on Gilberto Ramirez in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. – urged Smith).
“Everyone sees him as a monster that can’t be defeated, and I’ve never seen him as that,” Billam-Smith said.
“Jack Massey is the second best name on Opetaia’s record.
“I don’t think ‘Zurdo’ gets enough credit at the moment, because he hasn’t had many fights at cruiserweight and he beat (Arsen) Goulamirian, who is old and inactive, but he was still very good. Very, very good. It was a victory.
“Maybe his activity affected him in that fight, but it was still a very, very good win and the way (Ramirez) did, he was very busy in that fight, he really reached out and showed good variety.
“There’s also (WBC champion Noel) Mikaelian. He’s had very close fights with Briedis in the past. He’s really awkward.
“I think other champions like ‘Zurdo’ and Noel Mikaelian are all very underrated.”
Watch the world title unification between Gilberto Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith live on Saturday sky sports mix From 5pm
