Former cruiserweight champion Chris Billam‑Smith has inked a multi‑fight pact with Zuffa Boxing and will now headline live on Sky Sports. Fresh off a unanimous decision win over stablemate Brandon Glanton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the 35‑year‑old is eyeing a showdown with fellow Zuffa star Jai Opetaia to cement his claim as the division’s best.

Billam‑Smith captured the WBO cruiserweight belt in May 2023, losing it to Gilberto Ramirez in November 2024 before rebounding with the Glanton victory. Opetaia, who secured the inaugural Zuffa world cruiserweight title last month by also defeating Glanton, represents the only opponent Billam‑Smith has publicly named as his next target.

Despite a year‑long layoff, the former champion has trained continuously since January and hopes to fight again on home soil. He stresses a desire to return to Bournemouth, where he first won a world title in 2023, and says a UK bout will be the next step before any clash with Opetaia.

Sky Sports will carry the bout, offering the cruiserweight division its biggest domestic platform in years. A Billam‑Smith‑Opetaia clash would not only settle the bragging rights debate but also boost Zuffa’s profile in the UK market, potentially attracting further European talent to the promoter’s roster.