Richard Riakporhe: Lawrence Okolie will need knockout to beat Chris Billam-Smith on Saturday | boxing news
Cruiser contender Richard Riakporhe wants to take on winner Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith later this year.
In his hometown of Bournemouth on Saturday, Billam-Smith challenges Okolie for the WBO cruiser class world title, live Sports sky.
Riakporhe, who had previously fought Billam-Smith and developed a stiff rivalry with Okolie himself, established himself as a cruiser class candidate, especially with his overwhelming victory over Krzysztof Glowacki in January.
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Boxxer CEO Ben Shalom says Okolie’s new, more aggressive style could benefit Billam-Smith
He’s positioned himself for a world championship spot and will love to claim it against the British in 2023. He’ll be available when Billam-Smith and Okolie battle it out at Vitality Stadium, ready to announce the winner.
“I really want to see who will be the winner because I plan to fight the winner at some point this year,” Riakporhe said. Sky Sports News.
“I believe I can beat both of them on the same night, both of them by knockout.
“I don’t mean to go 12 laps, I’m telling you that.”
In fact, he believes Okolie will need a knockout to beat Billam-Smith at Bournemouth.
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Okolie says he is ready to defend his throne against Billam-Smith and is preparing for a tough fight.
“He knows he has to go there and really put on a great performance and to be honest, he’s going to have to knock, he’s going to need a knockout to make sure,” Riakporhe said. .
“I think if it goes the distance then Chris Billam-Smith will lead in points. Personally I think he will take the points.”
Riakporhe explained: “I think it will be a tough match and why, his former coach [Shane McGuigan] training Chris Billam-Smith, which is even more fun.
“He’s going to know all the weaknesses and how to exploit that with his man Chris Billam-Smith. So I’d really like to see how this plays out.
“Because [Okolie] To win this match, he will have to knock out Chris Billam-Smith, take it in his hand, don’t let it fall into the hands of the judges. I think that’s the smartest thing to do. But at the same time easier said than done.
“They definitely had a plan, Shane McGuigan and Barry McGuigan are very smart, they have good strategies for the boxers and I think Chris Billam-Smith is the right man for the job. He can do it. . He can shoot, he can give it, he can take it off.”
Okolie only defended her title in March and so had to immediately attend an eight-week training camp. Riakporhe believes this fight came too soon for him and Okolie has put herself under pressure.
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Ahead of this weekend’s WBO cruiser clash between Okolie and Billam-Smith, check out some of Britain’s best world title fights on Sky Sports
“He didn’t spend a lot of time correcting his mistake. In the last game he did the same thing – lots of punches and holds from the first half. I think he’ll be penalized.” Riakporhe said.
“In the last game he was deducted one point and if Shane McGuigan and Chris Billam-Smith come up with a reasonable plan and he starts holding out early and he gets three points, three warnings, That’s it, I think he’s really going to lose.
“I think they’ll definitely make sure he doesn’t do any holds because Lawrence Okolie is famous for holding after he throws his punches.
“I guess they definitely objected to that with the referee to make sure it didn’t happen. That would leave. [Okolie] at a disadvantage because he’s won a lot of fights and holds, hits, and embraces style.
“Respect Lawrence Okolie, he’s put a lot of pressure on himself and I think it’s going to be more difficult than he actually envisioned.”
