Chris Billam-Smith Focuses on Redemption After Loss to Gilberto Ramirez

Chris Billam-Smith isn’t letting his recent WBO cruiserweight title loss to Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez keep him down. Despite the tough defeat in a brutal unification fight in Riyadh, the Bournemouth native remains determined to compete at the world championship level and make his mark in the cruiserweight division.

Lessons Learned in a Grueling Battle

The clash with Ramirez tested Billam-Smith to his limits. Suffering cuts, rib damage, and injuries to both hands, the fight left him in significant pain, so much so that he needed assistance to move in the hospital after the match.  “I was landing clean, solid punches, and he didn’t even react,” Billam-Smith shared in an interview with the BBC. “It was shocking and frustrating. Right after I hit him, he’d come back with three or four big punches. That was disheartening.”

Despite the loss, the 20-2 (13 KOs) fighter sees the experience as a chance to improve. “This was a learning curve for me and my team. We’ll come back stronger,” he said.

Focused on the Cruiserweight Title Picture

At 34, Billam-Smith knows he has limited time left in his career, but he’s far from done. He’s aiming for either a title eliminator or another shot at a world championship in his next fight. The cruiserweight division is already heating up. Jai Opetaia, the current IBF champion, is set to defend his belt against Huseyin Cinkara in January. If Opetaia wins, he’ll likely face Ramirez in a massive three-belt unification fight.

Still, Billam-Smith remains confident he’ll reclaim his spot among the sport’s elite. “I’ve got a couple more years left in me,” he said. “I’m not thinking about retirement yet. I want to go out on a high note.”  With his resilience and determination, Chris Billam-Smith has his sights set on redemption. Fans can expect the former champion to push harder than ever for another shot at the top, keeping the cruiserweight division as competitive as ever.