Chris Billam-Smith’s nickname ‘The Gentleman’ is fitting for a family man with a heart for local charities, but the WBO champion has prepared for a ‘brutal’ revenge mission.
Billam-Smith honed his skills for a treacherous WBO cruiserweight title defense against Richard Riakporhe in front of the challenger’s crowd at Selhurst Park on Saturday night, live Aerial sports.
However, at home, when spending time with loved ones, Billam-Smith’s approach as a husband and father is very different.
“Boxing is a sport where you can’t be the person you need to be with your family,” Billam-Smith said.
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Billam-Smith received a cold response from Riakporhe when he predicted a knockout victory
“It’s a very brutal sport, and the mindset you have to go into on training days is that you don’t really want your family there.
“When you’re with your loved ones, you release oxytocin, which is not the hormone you need for boxing. You need a lot of adrenaline and testosterone.
“I’m pretty good at switching between the boxing version of myself and the family version. It’s almost like you’re a character.”
It was at another Premier League stadium – home of his beloved AFC Bournemouth – that he beat out his former teammate Lawrence Okolie just over a year ago.
The new world champion dedicated his victory to his mother who, before making a full recovery, was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in her life.
“She was always my rock, my best friend,” he said. “We lived together for a while, just her and me, when my brothers moved out and my mom and dad split up.
“A few years ago I had my son, Frank, and she is amazing with him. They have a real, special bond. She’s definitely where I get my fighting spirit from.”
Outside of boxing, there are two constants that will always be at the heart of Billam-Smith’s life: family and Bournemouth.
As a high-profile and well-supported athlete, his presence is felt by a number of local charities; of which he is the Bournemouth Foodbank ambassador.
After visiting their warehouse – which was overflowing with food – and being told that they only had one to two months of stock, he was emphatically amazed by the scale of the association’s work. .
“My wife ended up in tears,” he said. “She just couldn’t believe it, seeing how many people are in need, especially now that the cost of living is increasing.
“It was truly eye-opening beyond belief. All the staff are lovely and they put on some really great events.
“It’s so much more than just food. There are some truly amazing people there who are making such a big difference in the area.”
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Watch highlights from Riakporhe’s 2019 split decision win over Billam-Smith
As a lifelong Bournemouth fan, Billam-Smith developed a strong partnership with his boyhood football club which, in turn, opened the door to several opportunities.
In a rather unconventional way, he learned more about the players by hosting a brand new series on the AFC Bournemouth YouTube channel, filmed in a local restaurant.
Billam-Smith asks a sequence of questions and players can respond either by providing an answer or, if they’re brave enough, by enjoying a piping hot chicken wing.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “To host something like that – and I’m not known for my hosting skills – I was very pleased with how I ultimately pulled it off.
“It was very nerve-wracking for me at first, but sitting there with the guys was phenomenal.
“It’s two of my favorite things in one place: AFC Bournemouth and Chicken & Blues.”
A closer relationship with the team inspired Billam-Smith to consider which players would make the best boxers.
“Looking at Antoine (Semenyo’s) strength, I think he would be quite maneuverable, quite powerful,” he said.
“Then you have workhorses like Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie. I’m sure they could get into it too.”
With an array of talent in football and boxing, professional sport on the south coast has never shone brighter.
Perhaps that’s why Billam-Smith feels an extra desire – beyond the desire to get revenge on a former opponent – to go through his next fight comprehensively.
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Ahead of Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe, we look back at some of the biggest stadium fights in British boxing history
While it was Riakporhe who emerged victorious after their first encounter in 2019, a much-improved version of ‘The Gentleman’ will look to deliver a more polished performance in their second clash.
“(Riakporhe) is not a high work rate fighter, and he won’t want to be that way against me because I will only tire him out,” he said.
“It will be interesting to see how he handles my pace, which is always intense.”
Riakporhe has mercilessly stopped his last five opponents but, come fight night, Billam-Smith is confident he will nullify his rival’s devastating power.
“I can just maintain a very high work rate for a very long time,” he said. “My engine, my fitness and my heart are all there, and a lot of cruiserweights can’t live with that pace.
“Anyone in the world would have trouble with that pace, I think.”
Last remaining tickets for Billam-Smith vs Riakporhe available via Boxxer.com.
Watch Chris Billam-Smith defend his WBO cruiserweight world title against Richard Riakporhe at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports on Saturday June 15; Or Stream with NOW
