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Billam-Smith defeats Riakporhe to retain his cruiserweight title

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Chris Billam-Smith defeated Richard Riakporhe to win by unanimous decision (116-111, 115-112, 115-112) in a disciplined, dominant second defense of the WBO cruiserweight title on Saturday.

The fight, which was strenuous to watch at times, was long, but Billam-Smith produced cleaner work and higher work efficiency in front of the Riakporhe fans at Selhurst Park, the home ground of English Premier League team Crystal Palace in London.

The victory for 33-year-old Billam-Smith (20-1, 13 KO) of Bournemouth was also revenge for a split decision loss to English rival Riakporhe in 2019 and perhaps should have won by a greater margin than the judges had.

Billam-Smith emphatically denied threatening striker Riakporhe (17-1, 13 KO), 34, from south London, time to stabilize and land powerful punches.

The biggest fight will be a unification fight with Mexican Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30 KO), WBA champion, or Australian Jai Opetaia (25-0, 19 KO), 28-year-old number 1 of the division and IBF champion. now available to Billam-Smith.

“Experience, speed and game plan made the difference,” Billam-Smith said.

“The game plan was in place and I was joyful with how I executed it. If we can get a Zurdo fight in America, I would love it.

“I thought at worst I should have won 8-4, he didn’t really catch me. “Richard will learn from this and move on to more vital things.”

Billam-Smith won the WBO belt by majority vote against Lawrence Okolie a year ago and then stopped Mateusz Masternak in eight rounds in December, but it was the best performance of his career so far in three world title fights.

There was a lot of holding at the beginning, especially Riakporhe, but the master did a cleaner job.

Riakporhe started Round 5 well but was unable to stay there, putting Billam-Smith under constant pressure. Billam-Smith landed a good right hook later in round 5, and in round 6 he put together a series of combinations.

Riakporhe choked Billam-Smith frequently to disrupt the champion’s rhythm, but Billam-Smith’s work rate saw him take the points lead in the second half of the fight.

Billam-Smith hurt Riakporhe in the eighth round when he spun him with an uppercut, but Riakporhe responded in round 9 with his best punches of the fight when he finally let go of his hands.

Billam-Smith withstood the pressure of the ninth round and once again performed well in the close-range fight to confirm his advantage in round 10. Riakporhe lost a point in the final round, but by then he was already well behind the points and showed little, suggest that it could cause a stop.

Whittaker scores

Ben Whittaker had to settle for a dominant score over Ezra Arenyeka in their featherlight heavyweight bout as he continued his journey towards world title contention.

The English boxer, the Olympic silver medalist from three years ago, went 10 rounds for the first time in his career and won with high scores of 100-89, 99-90 and 99-90.

“I knew he was going to be tough,” Whittaker said.

“I wanted to knock him out, but I managed to stay pristine. It changed at times in WWE, but I managed to win.

“I hurt him a few times. I made him look stupid and won easily.”

Whittaker (8-0, 5 KO) has amassed thousands of followers on social media with his signature and eye-catching knockouts. This may divide opinion, but what is beyond dispute is Whittaker’s talent, which he showed in a comfortable points victory over Arenyeka (12-1, 10 KO), 28, of Nigeria.

Whittaker (27) from Wolverhampton showed great combinations, skills and reflexes, but was unable to impress his opponent. Whittaker did enough to win the rounds without putting any solemn pressure on Arenyeka.

Arenyeka was deducted a point in Round 7 for using an elbow, and his frustration grew in the later rounds as Whittaker toyed with him. Only in the last minute of the fight did Whittaker threaten to stop the fight.

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Devin Haney’s ‘damaged image’ lawsuit against Ryan Garcia

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Teofimo Lopez Sr. believes that Devin Haney is only suing Ryan Garcia to save his “damaged image.”

Garcia earned a decision over Haney in April in Fresh York, where he also recorded three knockdowns. His majority decision was later declared invalid after Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine.

Haney filed a lawsuit against Garcia alleging fraud, battery and unjust enrichment – five months after he first filed the lawsuit fined $1.1 million and suspended for one year.

“Devin Haney is just playing chess and trying to put the right pieces in the right places to make the most of what happened to him and his image because Ryan Garcia destroyed his image” – Lopez Snr, father and trainer of the WBO junior weight champion lightweight – and therefore Haney’s rival – Teofimo Jnr, told Fight Hub TV.

The 25-year-old Haney is still scheduled to return to the ring since his fight with the 26-year-old Garcia, and there’s already some question as to whether he’ll be the same fighter when he does.

“I don’t know if it’s true, but Ryan Garcia said you can take a little bit of salt and throw it into an Olympic-size swimming pool and that’s all the stuff you have in your body,” Lopez Snr continued.

“I don’t know how true that is. But if that’s the case, man, you know what I’m saying?”

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Ryan Garcia: ‘I would give Terence Crawford his biggest payday’

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Image: Ryan Garcia: "I would Give Terence Crawford His Biggest Payday"

Ryan Garcia says he would give Terence Crawford the “biggest payday of his life” if he agreed to fight him. The recently 37-year-old Crawford (41-0, 31 KO) probably won’t take him up on his offer because he’s obsessed with getting a mega-fight with Canelo Alvarez before he retires, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

(Source: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

If Ryan was stern about wanting to fight Crawford, he would be crazy to turn down the fight. He won’t get a fight with Canelo in a million years and there is no one at 147, 154, 160 or 168 that can command a payday like Ryan.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KO) may have been pulling Crawford’s chin, telling fans he would like to fight him because he is currently unable to fight anyone. Today on social media, Ryan mentioned that he wants to play some exhibition matches in Japan, but that would probably not involve Crawford.

Ryan, 26, says he finds Crawford dull, and that’s true. Crawford is dull to watch because he’s a boxer. The guys he knocked out were either aged, damaged by car accidents, or weren’t that good to begin with.

“As for Bud Crawford, I already called him out. I think he’s just trying to fight Canelo Alvarez. That’s why I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Ryan Garcia continued social mediatalking about wanting to fight Terence Crawford.

“I would like to fight Bud Crawford. I don’t think he’s as good as people say. I say it publicly and I say it live now. If Bud is listening to me, I would love to fight you. I feel like I would literally blow you away.

Crawford would have to be extremely spoiled to turn down such an offer to fight Ryan because he won’t get anything better.

“You’re a good fighter, but I don’t think you’ve ever beaten anyone with your talent, explosiveness, and strength. I think you could have beaten Shawn Porter. He is a great fighter, but quite basic. Errol Spence Jr. had an accident. I don’t think he’s that good,” Garcia said.

“Have you fought someone who knocked you out in one punch? NO. So I think Bud Crawford is overrated. You can have your own opinion on this matter. That’s how I feel. I’m a boxer. I don’t care. I will fight him and I will defeat him [stuffing] out of him. I feel like this is it. Empty word and period,” Garcia said.

The left hook that Ryan Garcia throws would certainly knock out Crawford if it landed on the button. Crawford was badly hurt by former featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa many years ago, and if he was injured then, Ryan could hurt him just as much now. Crawford took a lot of demanding shots from Israil Madrimov in the August 3 fight, which couldn’t have been good for him.

“I would actually fight him. There is a difference. I would actually fight him. You could actually see Ryan Garcia in the ring with Bud Crawford. I can’t speak for the other players. I don’t know if Tank would fight Bud Crawford, but I know he would. I would fight Bud Crawford with pride, I’ll go in there and give it my all,” Garcia said.

A fight between Ryan and Crawford would have a lot of benefits, but only for Kingry’s sake. Crawford will come to the fight. It may not matter whether Turki Alalshikh is paying Crawford, but the PPV numbers wouldn’t be on par with the Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis fight.

“If he doesn’t want it, it’s not my fault. If he doesn’t think it fits, it’s not my fault. He is not a draw. He brings nothing to the table. He’s dull as hell, but I’d probably give him the biggest payday of his life if he took the fight,” Ryan said.

If His Excellency Turki Alalshikh is interested in paying Crawford tons of money to fight an unpopular 154-pounder, he will likely do so. He won’t agree to fight anyone not named Canelo unless Turki pays him handsomely.

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Devin Haney’s Lawsuit Against Ryan Garcia ‘Deadly Full of Holes’

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Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney

Devin Haney’s plan to sue Ryan Garcia for millions of dollars has a fatal flaw as the boxer’s reputation takes another beating on social media.

“The Dream” initiated legal action against Garcia, even though his only loss was ruled a no-contest. The WBC super lightweight champion wants monetary compensation for being beaten by the Golden Boy star.

Haney’s father, Bill, told the world that “Suits are part of business. Welcome to boxing and the Devin Haney era. Many fans responded that the action was extreme, even though Garcia failed drug tests.

Many believe that a year’s punishment and stripping of the victory is enough, but the Haneys do not. However, there is a consensus that the pursuit of extra cash is “deadly flawed.”

The main weakness of this case is the fact that Bill told Garcia that they were coming to “kill” him, which is a clear sign that “Kingry” may start his own legal process.

In response to the video reminding Bill of his words, Garcia replied, “I have no choice but to sue him.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who once represented Haney until the falling out, says Garcia’s actions could have huge consequences.

“This could be a really pivotal moment for boxing because in the past people have asked when a fighter fails a drug test and there’s a fight, ‘Should there be legal or police action against this fighter?’

“If Haney wins this case, I think it will really start to discourage players from using PEDs. When Ryan Garcia gets a one-year ban, it’s not a problem. A few months break and you’re back in camp. But if you lose tens of millions of dollars, it takes on a different meaning,” Hearn told Charlie Parsons.

In reference to Haney’s attempt to profit from the loss, Garcia responded to Hearn’s comments by saying, “Any expert understands that I have never knowingly taken PEDs. It seems you and the Haneys have underestimated me so much that you can’t recover from a fight, and neither can the Haneys. And now, looking at what happened, it seems like both of you can’t win [after Anthony Joshua lost].

Garcia added: “If Devin needs money that badly, I have a sponsor for him. This is a fresh type of tampon created especially for men.”

The fan also reminded the Haneys of their promise to murder in the lead-up. He asked, “Didn’t Bill Haney say they were sending Devin Haney to kill Ryan Garcia? Did he really want Ryan to die in the ring? Now Haney’s team says they could have died. Wanting to file a lawsuit is absolute bullshit.

Part of the lawsuit says Haney accuses Garcia of battery. However, the fact that Bill could stop the “battery at any time” could have backfired on him.

Garcia concluded: “I asked you, Bill, to stop the fight, but you allowed the battery to continue. You wanted this beating to match,” said the suspended super lightweight.

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