SHANE MCGUIGAN says Richard Riakporhe ought to think about preventing one of many different main males at cruiserweight and never Chris Billam-Smith.
On Saturday night time McGuigan skilled Billam-Smith 18-1 (12) to a gutsy majority determination win over Lawrence Okolie. It was the largest night time of the 32-year-old’s profession and performed out in entrance of 15,000 followers on the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth.
Billam-Smith, Okolie and Riakporhe are all signed to Boxxer and Sky with the latter of the three Brits calling for a shot on the man he beat 4 years in the past in a 10-round cut up determination.
Riakporhe spoke to Sky Sports activities about his need to face the brand new belt holder: “That’s massive and that’s how we form of envisioned the rematch, on that stage, at that stage. And what higher time? The time is now. Why not?”
McGuigan, nevertheless, has his eye on a far greater identify and one that might even tick off one other piece of Billam-Smith’s bucket record.
“Why aren’t you going after [Arsen] Goulimirian? Why weren’t you going after Lawrence Okolie?” He stated of Riakporhe when talking to Boxing Information within the early hours of Sunday morning.
“It took Chris Billam-Smith to go and beat Lawrence Okolie for him to go cool, I beat you within the first combat.
“Struggle Lawrence or combat Goulimirian or combat [Jai] Opetaia. Struggle one among them! You’re not going to get the Badou Jack combat. Badou Jack’s ready for Canelo and if he’s ready for Canelo [then] CBS ought to get the Canelo combat! I’m not even joking. We gained’t go to Guadalajra, we’ll perhaps go to Vegas.”
The speedy future for Billam-Smith, after a relaxation, might lie in one other combat with Okolie who was given a rematch clause as a part of the deal. BN requested CBS about his ideas on that and the long run.
“He’s a proud man, he’s a winner at coronary heart and I feel that [rematch] is sensible to him and why wouldn’t you. You’ve acquired a world title alternative once more, it’s not like I’ve sparked him out clear. It was a messy combat at occasions, a transparent winner. Sure, I harm him. I’d anticipate him to need the rematch.”
Preventing on the Vitality Stadium was a dream come true for ‘The Gentleman’ who has change into one among boxing’s really feel good tales. It was an evening to recollect for the fighter, his household and their group. However what’s subsequent?
“Subsequent dream is I assume Vegas. I’d like to combat in Vegas,” he replied.
“Sadly, no American cruiserweights [with] world titles over there in the mean time. There was discuss of a Mexican [Canelo] coming as much as cruiserweight as soon as who does good tickets in Vegas! I feel Vegas could be one other bucket record factor.”
Not so long-ago Canelo had lined up a combat towards Ilunga Makabu at cruiserweight. Throughout the WBC Conference in November 2021 Canelo’s supervisor and coach Eddy Reynoso submitted a request to problem Makabu for his belt. The combat by no means occurred.
Having conquered the super-middleweight division Canelo moved to light-heavyweight to problem Dmitry Bivol in Could 2022 however misplaced 115-113 on all scorecards. A rematch between the 2 is being pursued for September.
