Jai Opetaia Ready To Give Up Pursuit Of Unification Bout With Chris Billam-Smith
IBF cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia has admitted he’s running out of patience as he continues to wait for a response from WBO title holder Chris Billam-Smith over a potential unification bout.
Opetaia (25-0-0 19 KO) became a two-time world champion in May when he defeated Mairis Briedis for a second time to reclaim the IBF title. Their bout was the co-main event of the undisputed heavyweight fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Now the Australian is on a mission to become undisputed himself and has identified Billam-Smith as his first target. He revealed during a live broadcast last month that an offer had been sent to the British fighter and he was awaiting his rival’s response.
However, weeks have passed and Opetaia has still heard nothing back, and he admitted he would soon give up his pursuit of the WBO belt and look at the rest of the division’s champions.
“I’ve been chasing the WBO for quite a while,” the 29-year-old southpaw told BoxingScene. “It’s pretty obvious he doesn’t want to fight so we’ve just got to move on to the next person, I guess. I can only do so much, so now I’m going to fight whoever they put in front of me, really.
‘Nothing Stopping’ The Fight
“The fight’s there. The fight is there to be made. There’s nothing stopping it, except their decision. It’s the biggest paycheck he’ll get. I don’t know. I can only do so much. As much as I talk about it, I’m not even trying to say he’s an easy fight or he’s a walk in the park or anything like that. I just want the fight to happen.
“I want to fight for the WBO. I want that belt around my waist and so I’ve just been trying to make sure it happens, but I can only do so much.”
Billam-Smith (20-1-0 13 KO) won the WBO belt in May 2023 when he edged out champion Lawrence Okolie on a majority decision. The 34-year-old has made two defences, including avenging his only professional defeat to Richard Riakporhe in June.
Should Billam-Smith reject the fight, Opetaia’s other unification options are WBA champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and WBC title holder Noel ‘Gevor’ Mikaelian.
“I don’t even know why we’re still in negotiations or in talks,” Opetaia said. “I don’t understand it. I’ve got the most to offer over any other cruiserweight in the world. I’ve got two belts, everybody else has one. I’m generating the most money, I’m fighting on the biggest stages. I don’t understand.
Opetaia Not Expecting An Easy Fight
“I’m not going to waste any more energy on it. I’ve tried to make the fight happen. They don’t want that to happen. They don’t want to fight yet. So I don’t know what to do. I’ve just got to fight a different opponent.”
While it seems Billam-Smith might be avoiding Opetaia and the Australian would be a heavy favorite if the fight ever took place, the IBF champion insisted he would be expecting a very tough challenge.
“I believe my skill set is a lot higher than his, in terms of natural ability and stuff; that doesn’t mean it’s going to be an easy fight,” Opetaia said. “I know he’s got a lot of grit and he’s gonna want to win that fight. People dig deep. You find out who people are in world championship fights like that.
“I feel you’ve just got to dig deep and keep coming forward. They’re hard fights. Someone that doesn’t want to lose is always going to be a hard fight, it’s not a walk in the park. But I’m not here to take easy fights. I’m here to take memorable fights.
“I’m ready to fight,” he added. “Just put me in the ring and let me go. I’m sick of beating around the bush. We’re world champs, we want to fight other world champions, and the Sheikh’s got everything in his power to make sure it happens, but they just don’t want it, so what do I do?”
