According to top cruiserweight contender Chris Billam-Smith, his domestic rival Richard Riakporhe turned down the possibility of a rematch - rejecting the scenario of fighting before a Bournemouth crowd.
Billam-Smith has rebuilt his career after suffering a close points loss to Riakporhe in July 2019. Earlier this month he brutally knocked out Armend Xhoxhaj at the Bournemouth International Centre.
Riakporhe (15-0, 11 KOs), who was ringside for Billam-Smith's recent fight, believes he would have won by a knockout inside of three rounds that night.
"He's going to say what he's going to say," said Billam-Smith said to Sky Sports. "He had the opportunity to fight me [earlier this month] and unfortunately, he turned it down.
"We agreed to it, I heard that he didn't want to fight me in Bournemouth. He saw the atmosphere last time out, so maybe that put him off a little bit. He had the opportunity, but he didn't take it, so words are one thing, actions are another."
Billam-Smith is angling for a world title shot in 2023. The titles are currently held by Arsen Goulamirian (WBA), Ilunga Makabu (WBC), Jai Opetaia (IBF) and Lawrence Okolie (WBO).
There is some discussion about matching Billam-Smith with Opetaia. Riakporhe has been calling for a crack at Okolie, who has a mandatory defense in March against David Light.
Billam-Smith could see both he and Riakporhe winning world titles and then circling back to fight each other in the future.
"I think now our eyes are set on a world title shot, so we're going to go away and win a world title," Billam-Smith said.
"Hopefully he can do the same and then we can get the rematch on both as world champions and make it a huge, huge fight."
