WBO order Chris Billam-Smith to fight for the Interim cruiserweight title
WBO request Chris Billam-Smith vs Roman Fress begin negotiations
The World Boxing Organization have issued a Negotiation Order for the WBO Jr. Heavyweight (cruiserweight) Interim Championship to be contested by Chris Billiam-Smith and Roman Fress (23-1, 13 KOs).
Promoters Ben Shalom and Ulf Steinforth have been given 20 days to reach an agreement, before the fight goes to purse bids, from September 8. The minimum bid is $300,000.
Former WBO world cruiserweight champion, Chris 'The Gentleman' Billam-Smith, lost his world to Gilberto Ramirez in their November 2024 unification fight in Saudi Arabia, but has since bounced back with a win over Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in April 2025.
The 25-year-old Bournemouth boxer has defeated the likes of Lawrence Okolie, Richard Riakporhe, Mateusz Masternak and Isaac Chamberlain during his eight-year pro career.
Formerly with Matchroom, Billam-Smith signed with BOXXER in 2022 and is trained by Shane McGuigan. As a pro, he has won, British, Commonwealth, European and World titles.
Roman Fress is the current WBO Inter-Continental cruiserweight champion, a belt he has held once before during 2021-2022. He has lost just once in a 24-bout career, and is currently riding on an eight-fight win streak.
Who is Roman Fress?
Roman Fress was born in Vozvyshenka, Kazakhstan on March 20, 1994.
He fights out of Magdeburg, Germany, where he has resided for over seven years now.
The 31-year-old stands at 6'3".
As an amateur, he took part in the World Series of Boxing during 2016.
Fress had his pro debut on February 3, 2018, then won the German cruiserweight title eight months later in just his fifth fight.
Roman won the WBO Inter-Continental cruiserweight title in 2021, then again in 2025; he also lifted the IBO Inter-Continental belt in 2023, and the WBC International strap in 2024.
Fress has lost just once to Armend Xhoxhaj (21-4, 10 KOs) in May 2022, the same man Kosovan that CBS KO'd in five rounds later that year in Bournemouth.
He is ranked WBO #2, IBF #5, WBC #9, WBA #11, IBO #17 at cruiserweight.
He is signed to SES Boxing.
Roman is sponsored by Schwedenhaus Automobile, who supply him with a stylish Volvo V60 to drive around in.
