Billam-Smith: If Opetaia can't fight Wilder, I will!
Chris Billam-Smith might set aside his pursuit of Jai Opetaia to look at other options himself.
Key points
- Chris Billam-Smith says he may stop waiting for Jai Opetaia and pursue other fights, including a possible bout with Deontay Wilder.
- Billam-Smith expects Opetaia to face Wilder on the Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard and then David Benavidez next year.
- Billam-Smith is focused on his November 7 fight against Cheavon Clarke before considering his next move.
Chris Billam-Smith has said he is prepared to move on from his long-standing pursuit of Jai Opetaia and look at other opponents, including Deontay Wilder. The cruiserweight has wanted to box Australia's Opetaia, who is widely seen as the best in the division.
But Opetaia is expected to step up to heavyweight to fight former world champion Deontay Wilder on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard, before a possible bout with David Benavidez next year.
Billam-Smith on his plans
Billam-Smith told Sky Sports that he believes Opetaia will fight Wilder and then Benavidez, and that Benavidez will beat him. If that happens, Billam-Smith said he would then target Benavidez, but added that the fight is a year away and he is not going to wait around for it.
He said he cannot begrudge Opetaia fighting Wilder because he would do the same. Billam-Smith also said that if Opetaia pulled out of the Wilder fight, he could fight Wilder himself.
If Opetaia was to pull out of the Wilder fight, I could fight Wilder
— Chris Billam-Smith
What White said
Dana White, who promotes Opetaia, told Sky Sports that Opetaia is more than likely going to be on the undercard. He said Wilder is one opponent they have been talking about and working on.
White described Opetaia as willing to fight anybody, calling it a very dangerous fight for him given his position in the division. He said Opetaia is a fighter who will face anyone, even at heavyweight against someone who hits as hard as Wilder.
