Riakporhe vs Makabu next? | Billam-Smith wants the winner!

Richard Riakporhe should fight for a world title next and talks are underway to match him with Ilunga Makabu, the WBC belt-holder.

Riakporhe impressed with his two-round demolition of Fabio Turchi earlier this month and is now well placed as the eighth-ranked challenger in the WBC's world ratings.

Makabu became a two-time WBC champion in 2020 when he won back their belt. He boxed most recently in January, beating Thabiso Mchunu on a split decision.

"It should be a world title shot [next for Riakporhe]. We have mentioned the ideal opponent for him is Makabu, he wants that WBC belt," BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom told Sky Sports News.

"I think it's a great fight, we're due to speak to Don King this week, we have been talking about this for a while. That's the one Richard wants. I even did say to Richard, 'Do you want one more [bout]?' He wants the world title next.

"He's 32 years old now. He feels like he's gone through every single level and I think people know that he's ready, they can see that he's ready and it's just about making the fight now."

The European cruiserweight champion, Chris Billam-Smith, is gunning for the winner of that potential contest.

He wants revenge for a close split-decision loss to Riakporhe in 2019.

"It was exactly that, a real close fight. Since then obviously I've gone unbeaten and picked up plenty of titles and had some good results along the way," Billam-Smith told Sky Sports.

"I'd love the rematch. Any boxer that's got a loss on their record would love to rematch and avenge that loss. I would love that. I think eventually we'll end up doing it with at least one world title on the line. That's how I see it going. I think that makes sense for both of us."

Billam-Smith feels he was unlucky with