Former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith has outlined a bold plan that could see him move up to the new bridgerweight division for a clash with Deontay Wilder. The Bournemouth fighter, who lost his title to Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez in 2024, sees the hard-hitting Wilder as a stylistic matchup he could exploit.

Billam-Smith's immediate focus remains at 200lbs, where he targets a WBC title shot against Noel Mikaelian. However, he admits a fight with Wilder is a tempting prospect, especially if his former rival Lawrence Okolie were to win a heavyweight world title. A potential move to cruiserweight by David Benavidez also adds complexity to the division's landscape.

The ultimate goal for Billam-Smith is a showdown with Jai Opetaia, widely considered the best cruiserweight. He envisions a three-fight path: beating Mikaelian, then facing the winner of Benavidez vs. Zurdo, before challenging Opetaia. This route would position him as the 'A-side' for a major unification bout.