“I think the way I look at it is, who do I believe I need? At the end of the day, I want to prove you’re the best to myself, but also to everyone else, because that’s just part of the job, right? And that’s sort of the role you take. I’ve enjoyed proving people wrong in the past, but people see Jai Opetaia as the number one in the division. It’s between him and Zurdo right now. Obviously, I’ve boxed Zurdo [Gilberto Ramirez, losing a decision, and his WBO belt] and learned so much in that fight, and I would love that rematch down the line, but that was not going to happen anytime soon, because I’d need to beat Jai Opetaia for him to probably have interest in fighting me again. So that’s the route I’m looking at, and for me, it’s about fighting the best. The belts are great and I was so happy to be world champion, but I was happy because I beat the world champion who was the number one, or the number two in the division at the time… a very reputable world champion that no one gave me a chance to beat. Now, obviously, Jai’s had some highlight reel performances, and is viewed as the number one, and that’s what I want to do, but if he’s got a belt or he doesn’t have a belt, the belt doesn’t make him the best in the division.”
Chris Billam-Smith has Jai Opetaia in his sights following Zuffa Boxing deal
