WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith challenger Richard Riakporhe came face-to-face in London today to formally announce their June 15 clash at Selhurst Park.

They will box in a rematch, with Riakporhe notching an early career win over his domestic rival at the London’s O2 Arena via split decision in 2019, but here he's the challenger, even though he is said to support Crystal Palace Football Club, who play their home games at Selhurst Park.

Many behind the scenes believe that is a marriage of convenience, but regardless of that, more than 4,000 tickets were sold this morning and Billam-Smith will bring several thousand fans from his hometown of Bournemouth.  

Promoter Ben Shalom called this: “The biggest domestic fight in the cruiserweight division.” 

“Chris is probably the biggest success story we’ve had,” Shalom added, “and Richard’s been with us right from the very start. Everyone wants to create something historic [on June 15]. It will be a great fight, a huge fight, a rematch, a world title, it’s got everything.” 

The champion, who won his title last year defeating Lawrence Okolie at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, said: “It’s another football stadium for me. I had a special night last year. It gives me more motivation going into the lion’s den and makes the camp even more enjoyable. 

“Any fighter is going to want to avenge a loss. I’m glad I get to do that.”

In previous comments, Riakporhe said he felt Billam-Smith was deteriorating, despite many saluting the champion’s improvement under Shane McGuigan.

“Allow him to believe what he wants,” said Billam-Smith, who added he would like to face Zurdo Ramirez in America. “If you ask me if I believe if I’ve deteriorated, absolutely not. Me and my team as always know what’s got to be done and what I’m capable of. We are on an upwards trajectory and that’s all that matters.”

Riakporhe said he feels his previous win over Billam-Smith helps, but he can’t rely on it in July.

“It gives me a bit of a psychological edge,” said the challenger. “Because I know I’ve beat him before but I don’t want to rest on past victories… Things change if you rest on past victories, it can give you a false sense of security and cloud your judgement… He’s become a world champion and now it’s my time."

Asked to talk about the supposed deterioration in his old rival, Riakporhe said: “Boxing is wear and tear on the body all the time and we all deteriorate and he’s always in gruelling fights and takes too many shots, and every single shot you take takes a toll on the body and I’ve seen 'CBS' deteriorate in that regard. 

“Once you keep on knocking on the glass, you hear it crack. And it only takes one shot to shatter that whole thing.”

In an otherwise respectful media conference Riakporhe said he would figure prominently in Billam-Smith’s nightmares in the build-up. The champion said he will be sleeping just fine, to which Riakporhe replied: “He’s going to get all the sleep he needs on the 15th when I knock him out.”