Chris Billam-Smith Targets World Title Comeback in 2025

Chris Billam-Smith has stated that he must return to the ring at the world level after losing to Gilberto Ramirez in a world title unification bout in Saudi Arabia. Billam-Smith the former WBO cruiserweight champion, lost to Ramirez with the scorecards reading 116-112, 116-112 and 116-113 in favor of the Mexican fighter. Reflecting on the fight, Billam-Smith admitted that he was surprised by Ramirez’s resilience, saying that he landed clean shots without getting any reaction.

Despite his best efforts, including landing some good punches in the later rounds, Billam-Smith couldn’t overcome Ramirez’s consistent counterattacks. He fought through severe injuries including damage to both hands, a rib injury and deep cuts around his eyes. His vision blurred in the latter stages of the fight due to the damage. After the bout, doctors took Billam-Smith to the hospital for treatment where he spent over eight hours recovering.

He described the experience as mentally and physically draining as he struggled with pain and the effects of morphine. Despite the setback, Billam-Smith remains determined to continue his career. At 34, he has already held the British, Commonwealth and European titles and plans to fight at world level again in 2025.

He expressed his intention to challenge for a world title, possibly facing the winner of the upcoming fight between Jai Opetaia and Ramirez. However, he also acknowledged the challenges of balancing his career with family life, particularly the time he spends away from his wife and young son. Although he doesn’t consider retirement yet, Chris Billam-Smith is mindful of the toll the sport takes on his personal life.