Chris Billam-Smith eyeing up Badou Jack bout and Gilberto Ramirez rematch

Chris Billam-Smith has suggested that Badou Jack is the 'ideal fight' on route to a potential rematch with Gilberto Ramirez.

Chris Billam-Smith valiantly bounced back from a defeat to Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez with a victory over Brandon Glanton on 26th April at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning via unanimous decision.

His prior loss to Ramirez was just the second of his career, losing to Richard Riakporhe in 2019, a defeat that he later avenged when defeating Riakporhe five years later in 2024.

Billam-Smith would like the opportunity to put right his loss against Ramirez should the opportunity present itself, and seems relatively clear on the path he wants to take in the run up to a potential rematch.

When speaking to The Ring, the Bournemouth-born boxer said:

“From what I hear, Zurdo and Opetaia will fight each other if they both come through their next fights, which I expect them to do

“That’s an interesting fight in itself, but for me that only leaves Jack (Badou) as a target to win a belt. Obviously I am the No. 4 still with the WBC and beat the No. 5 in Glanton. I would like to think that I'd be well in position to fight Badou Jack next.

“That would be the ideal fight. Do I want to fight for a world title? Yes. I don't really want to keep having these in-between fights.

“I understand the last one I had to because I was coming off the back of a loss, but I just felt like if you fight someone in the top five with that sanctioning body, you'd think it'd boost you up the rankings, especially given my previous experience of being world champion

I'd love to get the Badou Jack fight, that would be ideal.

Billam-Smith seemingly views Badou Jack as the most realistic option to fight next, but a Ramirez rematch appears to be in the 34 year old’s sights.

“I'd love to fight Zurdo again,” he said. “I'd love that opportunity, just like I did with Richard Riakporhe, who was the first person to beat me as a pro.

“I put that one right in our second fight and now I want to avenge the Zurdo one, too. I want to right that wrong.”

Ellis Statham

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