{"id":31321,"date":"2024-06-13T16:23:29","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T20:23:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/chris-billam-smith-admits-nickname-of-the-gentleman-is-deceptive-as-he-plans-brutal-fight-with-richard-riakporhe-boxing-news\/13\/06\/2024\/"},"modified":"2024-06-13T16:23:29","modified_gmt":"2024-06-13T20:23:29","slug":"chris-billam-smith-admits-nickname-of-the-gentleman-is-deceptive-as-he-plans-brutal-fight-with-richard-riakporhe-boxing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/chris-billam-smith-admits-nickname-of-the-gentleman-is-deceptive-as-he-plans-brutal-fight-with-richard-riakporhe-boxing-news\/13\/06\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Billam-Smith admits nickname of ‘The Gentleman’ is deceptive as he plans brutal fight with Richard Riakporhe | Boxing News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Chris Billam-Smith’s nickname of ‘The Gentleman’ is fitting for a family man who holds local charities close to his heart, but the WBO champion has prepared for a “brutal” revenge mission.<\/p>\n

Billam-Smith has sharpened his skills for a treacherous WBO cruiserweight title defence against Richard Riakporhe in front of the challenger’s home crowd at Selhurst Park on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports<\/em>.<\/p>\n

However, at home, when spending time with his loved ones, there is a vastly-different approach from Billam-Smith, a husband and father.<\/p>\n

“Boxing is a sport where you can’t be the person you need to be around your family,” said Billam-Smith.<\/p>\n

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Billam-Smith got a cold response from Riakporhe when he predicted a knockout win<\/span>
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“It’s a very brutal sport, and the mindset you have to get in on sparring days – you don’t really want your family to be around.<\/p>\n

“When you’re around loved ones, you release oxytocin, which isn’t the hormone you need for boxing. You need a lot of adrenaline and testosterone.<\/p>\n

“I’m quite good at turning that switch between being the boxing version of myself and the family version. It’s almost like you’re a character.”<\/p>\n

It was at another Premier League stadium – the home of his beloved AFC Bournemouth – where he outpointed his former stablemate Lawrence Okolie just over a year ago.<\/p>\n

The newly-crowned world champion dedicated the win to his mother who, before making a full recovery, was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in her life.<\/p>\n

“She’s always been my rock; my best mate,” he said. “We lived together for a while, just her and I, when my brothers had moved out and my mum and dad had split up.<\/p>\n

“A couple of years ago I had my son, Frank, and she’s amazing with him. They’ve got a real, special bond. She’s definitely where I get my fighting spirit from.”<\/p>\n

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Away from boxing, there are two constants that will always be central to Billam-Smith’s life: family and Bournemouth.<\/p>\n

As a well-supported, high-profile athlete, his presence is felt by a number of local charities; one of which, the Bournemouth Foodbank, he is an ambassador for.<\/p>\n

After visiting their warehouse – which was full of food – and being told they had just one to two months’ worth of stock, he was, quite emphatically, left stunned by the magnitude of the charity’s work.<\/p>\n

“My wife ended up in tears,” he said. “She just couldn’t believe it, seeing how many people are in dire need, especially now with the cost of living going up.<\/p>\n

“It was eye-opening beyond belief, really. All the staff are lovely, and they put on some really good events.<\/p>\n

“It’s more than just food. There’s some really amazing people down there who make such an important difference in the area.”<\/p>\n

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Watch the best moments from Riakporhe’s win over Billam-Smith by split decision in 2019<\/span>
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As a life-long Bournemouth fan, Billam-Smith has developed a strong partnership with his boyhood football club which, in turn, has opened the door to several opportunities.<\/p>\n

He has, in a rather unconventional sense, learnt more about the players by hosting a brand-new series on the AFC Bournemouth YouTube channel, which is filmed at a local restaurant.<\/p>\n

Billam-Smith asks a sequence of questions and the players can respond by either providing an answer or, if they are brave enough, tucking into an extra-hot chicken wing.<\/p>\n

“It’s been great fun,” he said. “To host something like that – and I’m not known for my hosting skills – I was quite pleased with how I did in the end.<\/p>\n

“It was very nerve-wracking for me at first, but to sit there with the lads was phenomenal.<\/p>\n

“It is two of my favourite things in one place: AFC Bournemouth and Chicken & Blues.”<\/p>\n

A closer relationship with the team has inspired Billam-Smith to consider which players would make the best boxers.<\/p>\n

“Looking at the strength of Antoine [Semenyo], I think he’d be pretty handy, pretty powerful,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Then you’ve got workhorses like Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie. I’m sure they’d be able to turn their hands to it as well.”<\/p>\n

With an array of talent in both football and boxing, professional sport on the south coast has never shone brighter.<\/p>\n

It is perhaps, for this reason, that Billam-Smith feels an added desire – beyond wishing to exact revenge on a former opponent – to come through his next fight in comprehensive fashion.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Ahead
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Ahead of Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe, we take a look back at some of the biggest stadium fights in British boxing history<\/span>
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While it was Riakporhe who emerged victorious following their first encounter back in 2019, a much-improved version of ‘The Gentleman’ will be looking to put on a more refined performance when they clash for the second time.<\/p>\n

“[Riakporhe] is not a high work-rate fighter, and he won’t want to be that against me because I’d just tire him out,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It’ll be interesting to see how he deals with my pace, which is always intense.”<\/p>\n

Riakporhe has ruthlessly stopped his last five opponents, but, come fight night, Billam-Smith is confident he will negate his rival’s devastating power.<\/p>\n

“I can just keep a really high work-rate, for a really long time,” he said. “My engine, my fitness and my heart is all there, and a lot of cruiserweights can’t live with that pace.<\/p>\n

“Anyone in the world would struggle with that [pace], I believe.”<\/p>\n

Final remaining tickets for Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe available via Boxxer.com.<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Watch Chris Billam-Smith defend his WBO cruiserweight world title against Richard Riakporhe at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, live on Sky Sports on Saturday June 15; or <\/strong>Stream with NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Chris Billam-Smith’s nickname of ‘The Gentleman’ is fitting for a family man who holds local charities close to his heart, but the