Mike Perez Calls for Two Cruiserweight Fights
After a 34-second win over Israel Duffus in December 2024, Mike Perez said he wanted a fight with either Richard Riakporhe or Chris Billam-Smith—and joked that he could take on both in one night. The comments were a show of confidence during Perez’s comeback, not an announced double-header or confirmed offer. Sky Sports reported the remarks on January 17, 2025.
Perez’s comeback and callout
Perez had returned to the ring the previous month, stopping Duffus in 34 seconds. He told Sky Sports he was ready to face Riakporhe or Billam-Smith, naming the British cruiserweights as potential routes toward a world-title opportunity. Perez also said his team wanted that kind of bout by April. No fight with either boxer was announced in the report.
Why the matchup drew attention
Perez had experience in multi-bout formats earlier in his career: Sky Sports noted that he won the Prizefighter heavyweight tournament by defeating three opponents in one night and had also beaten two opponents at an event in Ireland. That background helps explain the bravado behind his proposal, though a conventional bout with either man would have been a separate contest.
The callout came after Billam-Smith defeated Riakporhe by unanimous decision in June 2024 to retain his WBO cruiserweight title. Riakporhe was therefore not undefeated when Perez made his comments. Any future matchup depended on promoters and fighters reaching an agreement; Perez’s confidence alone did not put a contest on the schedule.
Sources
- Sky Sports: Mike Perez says he would beat Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe on the same night (January 17, 2025)
- Sky Sports: Billam-Smith defeats Riakporhe to retain the WBO title (June 16, 2024)
Sources
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
