Get on the Midnight Train (15 June 2024)

By James Walton

Published 13th June 2024 22:24

Updated 24th September 2024 00:13

Chris Billam-Smith makes the second defence of his WBO Cruiserweight title this Saturday 15 June, live on Sky Sports. After four straight home fixtures, the Bournemouth man goes to the backyard of the one man to inflict a defeat on him, Richard Riakporhe. James Walton looks at the latest betting.

Get on the Midnight Train

Almost five years ago to the day on Saturday, these two then undefeated fighters, met for the first time. Riakporhe picked up a split decision in a fight which could have gone either way.

You would be hard pushed to find a boxer with more heart than Billam-Smith. Every fight is a hard grind. Last time out, he was well behind against Masternak but managed to dig down deep halting the Pole in round eight.

Riakporhe is 7-0 since the Smith fight. More importantly, he seems a lot keener to let his hands go and is on an impressive run of five straight KOs, only once going further than the fifth stanza.

If Riakpohre continues in that confident vein of letting his hands go, rather than holding when Smith gets close, I think Smith’s face-first style could suit Riakporhe.

The Londoner had a lot of success with the uppercut in their first bout and he could put on a bit of a home-coming show on Saturday night.

Riakporhe @ 9-5 by KO/TKO/DQ & Riakporhe to win in Rnds 1-6 @ 6-1 are both worth plays here.