Will Billam-Smith secure Opetaia after booking Zuffa debut bout?

Chris Billam-Smith has his next opponent in Ryan Rozicki - but can 'The Gentleman' springboard a victory to Jai Opetaia?

The former WBO cruiserweight champion became the latest big name to pen terms with Zuffa in a major move last month.

Billam-Smith's decision to forgo a crack at Opetaia's stripped IBF crown in terms of the man himself speaks to his motives.

For him, it is the Australian - widely seen as the division's top operator - that he wants, after years of sliding-door chances.

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To get there though, he must put ex-WBC bridgerweight challenger Rozicki in his place, a challenge easier said than done.

But even if Billam-Smith does the job, does that mean he will get Opetaia next? And what does it mean for the division too?

Who is Billam-Smith's next opponent?

Billam-Smith will face Rozicki, the durable Canadian once tipped to clean up the cruiserweight division some years ago.

Such success never quite materialised for the star, whose troubles beyond the ring have often dominated headlines too.

A 2022 controversy over his bout with Yamil Peralta further hindered his chances, as did a 2025 spent on the sidelines.

Rozicki fought for the first time since 2024 when he cleaned out Gerardo Mellado inside two rounds in March this year.

Now, he will seek to secure the biggest scalp of his career by toppling Billam-Smith following the latter's Zuffa switch.

Will Billam-Smith fight Opetaia?

The big-money question for 'The Gentleman' is whether he will get his shot with the Australian aftter plenty of needle.

Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Both Billam-Smith and Opetaia, along with their teams, have tended to point fingers over why they have not yet met.

Now, under the same roof at last, there are hopes among fight fans that the duo can fight, even with reduced stakes.

Zuffa's own cruiserweight crown is the nominal prize at hand, but any bout here is more about securing a big scalp.

That said, Billam-Smith must get past Rozicki first. Only then will powerbrokers likely move to make this matchup.

What about the IBF cruiserweight title?

The biggest variable over the past few months has been the status of the major strap, after Opetaia was stripped.

The Australian was convinced he should have retained it, only for the IBF to walk back sanctioning his last bout.

Zuffa's long-term aim to streamline the championship system seems to suggest little chance of a change of heart.

That means that Viddal Riley, now the leading ranked contender, will likely get a shot against another contender.

The Briton dethroned European champion Mateusz Masternak last month in an effective final eliminator for the belt.

Benavidez vs. Zurdo on DAZN PPV

Watch David Benavidez versus Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez on DAZN PPV this Saturday, May 2. Buy as a one-off PPV or get it included with the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription, which also includes the Wardley vs. Dubois (May 9), Usyk vs. Verhoeven (May 23), Fury vs. Hall (June 13) and Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPVs without any extra one-off costs.

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