Chris Billam-Smith now has the chance to enhance his legacy despite losing in brutal fashion to newly-crowned unified cruiserweight champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
The 34-year-old was comprehensively outboxed in his attempt to claim the WBA strap last Saturday, losing a unanimous decision against his vastly skilled and durable opponent.
Their 12-round battle took place in Saudi Arabia, where Billam-Smith put on a brave performance only to be outmaneuvered by Ramirez, a former super middleweight champion with 47 professional victories.
And so, the experience of Zurdo proved to be a decisive factor, allowing the Mexican to add the WBO title to his collection.
Mauricio Sulaiman says Chris Billam-Smith could face the winner of Norair Mikaeljan vs Ryan Rozicki
Shortly after Ramirez emerged victorious, Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya insisted that the 33-year-old’s next assignment should be against IBF titlist Jai Opetaia.
Opetaia, though, is expected to face mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara early next year, meaning the potential cruiserweight unification may have to wait.
As for Chris Billam-Smith, the former WBO champion – who suffered several injuries from his punishing defeat – is by no means out of the picture.
Rather, the Brit is set to secure another world title shot against the winner of Norair Mikaeljan vs Ryan Rozicki, a clash for the WBC trinket that is expected to take place in the near future.
What is more, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has confirmed that Billam-Smith will be given a lofty ranking by his sanctioning body.
Elsewhere on the scene, however, three-weight world champion Badou Jack – who won the green and gold belt last year – is seemingly close to reemerging, which could, in turn, complicate Billam-Smith’s route to a title shot.
“I’m sure [Billam-Smith] will be highly ranked by the WBC,” Sulaiman told Sky Sports.
“The cruiserweight status right now is confusing – Mikaelian has legal procedures against his promoter, Don King.
“That is why we had to support Rozicki. They had a signed contract to fight December 7. It’s all a mess.
“[Billam-Smith] could go straight to fight the winner. We have Badou Jack also trying to come back – he was champion in recess.”
Eddie Hearn teases Jai Opetaia vs Gilberto Ramirez unification
Fans must now wait and see how the WBC situation at 200 lbs unfolds as, like Sulaiman has alluded to, it is far from straightforward.
Thankfully, though, it appears that both De La Hoya and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn are keen for the potential Opetaia vs Ramirez showdown to materialize – that is, as long as the Australian’s mandatory challenger gets taken care of.
“It’s the best fight in the division and it’s a must make fight… As good as Zurdo is, Opetaia’s a different animal,” Hearn told DAZN.