British cruiserweight (200 lbs) contender Chris Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KO’s) and German fighter Roman Fress (23-1, 13 KO’s) have been ordered by the WBO to face each other in a final eliminator to determine the next interim champion. Smith and Fress currently occupy the #1 and #2 positions on the WBO’s cruiserweight rating boards. The winner will further be acknowledged as the official WBO mandatory challenger at 200 pounds.
The current holder of the title, Mexican unified [WBA & WBO] champion Gilberto Ramirez (48-1, 30 KO’s), recently defeated the WBA mandatory challenger, Yuniel Dorticos (27-3, 25 KO’s) from Cuba, to retain both his world titles but is currently recovering from a shoulder surgery, explaining the WBO’s recent mandate.
Billam-Smith, 35, carries plenty of experience as a former holder of the WBO title ― making a total of two title defenses before losing his title in a unification bout to Ramirez.
31-year old Fress bears a humbler resume that saw his only defeat come to Kosovan contender Armend Xhoxhaj (21-4, 10 KO’s); a win that put him in the position to challenge against then-WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith. Billam-Smith went on to knock out Xhoxaj in the 5th round of their title bout.
On paper, Chris Billam-Smith’s pedigree and ability makes him the top favorite to secure a win against Roman Fress, and possibly move back into the position for a rematch against Gilberto Ramirez.
The WBO has set a deadline of 20 days for the two fighters to reach an agreement whereafter a purse bid ceremony will commence. The deadline expires on August 29th.
