Billam-Smith Eyes Opetaia Showdown Before Potential Usyk Fight

Former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith has expressed interest in facing Oleksandr Usyk in the future, but believes he must first overcome Cheavon Clarke and secure a potential showdown with Jai Opetaia.

Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight and two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, is considering returning to the lower weight division before ending his professional boxing career.

The development has attracted attention across the cruiserweight division, with Billam-Smith welcoming the prospect of having one of boxing's biggest names compete in the category again.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the British boxer acknowledged that Usyk's return could affect his position in the world rankings but described the move as beneficial to the division.

Usyk is expected to pursue a fight against David Benavidez, who currently holds the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles. Such a contest could leave Opetaia, another leading fighter in the division, seeking an alternative opponent.

Billam-Smith believes that situation could improve his chances of securing the long-awaited fight against the Australian.

He said he was pleased with the possibility, adding that he believed Benavidez would defeat Usyk and that he had always wanted to become the first boxer to beat Opetaia.

The Bournemouth-born fighter, however, acknowledged that a meeting with Usyk would depend on several results going his way.

Billam-Smith is scheduled to face Cheavon Clarke on Saturday in a Zuffa Boxing 12 contest, with the fight serving as an immediate test of his ambitions.

A victory could move him closer to an opportunity against Opetaia, potentially placing him in contention for a future bout with Usyk.

Although an interim fight against Billam-Smith could provide Usyk with an opportunity to readjust to cruiserweight, the Briton expects the Ukrainian to pursue a direct contest against Benavidez instead.

He suggested that Usyk's standing in boxing and the commercial appeal of a Benavidez fight would make an immediate high-profile contest more likely than a preliminary bout.

Meanwhile, European cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley believes Usyk's decision to return to cruiserweight is driven largely by his desire for another challenge.

Riley, however, warned that moving back down after competing at heavyweight could prove difficult, arguing that fighters do not always retain the same physical advantages after such a transition.

Despite the concerns, he acknowledged that Usyk's possible return would bring greater attention to the cruiserweight division.