Las Vegas-based cruiserweight Robin Safar has identified Bournemouth’s Chris Billam-Smith as a prime contender for his next fight, aiming for a matchup on the upcoming Ryan Garcia versus Mario Barrios card. With Safar coming off a late 2025 victory over Derrick Miller and Billam-Smith last fighting in April 2025, both top-ranked fighters are seeking a significant bout to maintain momentum in their careers.
Previous Negotiations and Ranking Context
Safar had been linked to a potential fight with Zurdo Ramirez in early 2026. However, due to Safar’s knuckle injury recovery and Ramirez opting to focus on a light-heavyweight bout against David Benavidez scheduled for May, that fight failed to materialize. Ramirez currently holds the WBO and WBA belts at cruiserweight, with Noel Mikaelian and Jai Opetaia holding the WBC and IBF titles respectively. Mikaelian secured his belt last December by defeating Safar’s fellow Swede, Badou Jack.
I would love to fight Mikaelian, and I felt bad for Badou,
said Safar.
He didn’t look too good in that fight.
– Robin Safar
Safar’s manager, Kevin Mubenga, watched Mikaelian’s title win firsthand in Los Angeles and shared insights into their strategic targeting of top contenders.
Efforts to Secure High-Profile Matches
Safar’s camp has attempted to position him as a mandatory challenger within the cruiserweight rankings, especially aiming for a fight with WBC contender Ryan Rozicki. Mubenga revealed that they reached out to Rozicki’s team to negotiate a bout, but Rozicki opted for less challenging opponents, delaying a possible showdown.
He doesn’t have to fight Rob. He didn’t need to fight Rob and he took the route, which was easy. He’s fighting, I believe, a guy that’s 13 and two or 12 and three or something like that. And then, [if] he wins that in March, he moves on in a mandatory position.
– Kevin Mubenga, Robin Safar’s manager
With Rozicki advancing along a different path, Safar remains without an immediate opponent, intensifying interest in a contest with Billam-Smith.
Golden Boy’s Endorsement and Rankings Alignment
Promoters at Golden Boy have expressed strong enthusiasm for the Safar versus Billam-Smith fight. Mubenga disclosed conversations with Oscar De La Hoya, who emphasized that such a matchup fits perfectly with Safar’s current standing and career trajectory.
We spoke with Oscar [De La Hoya] about it. They love the fight, first of all,
Mubenga stated.
Oscar said in an interview something very important. He said, ‘Rob’s next fight needs to be with a guy like Chris Billam-Smith, in that position. And that makes a lot of sense. He’s number three by the Ring Magazine. Rob’s number eight by the Ring Magazine. Rob’s number four by the WBO, Chris is number five by the WBO. Chris is number three or four by the IBF, Rob is number eight by the IBF. So we’re kind of like circling each other, essentially, politically. He’s a free agent. We’re talking.
I’m hoping that Chris wants this fight as much as we want it. And he’s willing to wait and negotiate instead of jumping straight into something that he could do back home in that arena [in Bournemouth]. I know he has that option, but I don’t see why he wouldn’t want to come to Vegas and fight on the Ryan Garcia versus Mario Barrios card for an eliminator for good money on a Ring card now, right? That’s a Ring Magazine card [on February 21] now. It’s not a Golden Boy versus a PBC card. It’s a Ring Magazine card. Rob has fought for the Ring. Chris has fought for the Ring. They’re both ranked by the Ring. And it’s a great fight. So let’s see what happens, let’s see how this thing plays out in the next few weeks.
– Kevin Mubenga
Flexibility on Fight Location and Scheduling
If the fight cannot be arranged for the February 21 event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Safar is willing to travel to England for the bout, appreciating the passionate atmosphere of British boxing fans.
I would like to fight in England,
Safar explained.
I feel like the fans, they are nice, and I’m from Europe, bro. Come on, man. I’m European. I fought in England before, but never on a pro show. I love the atmosphere over there. People really love boxing.
– Robin Safar
Mubenga added that their campaign to schedule the fight in February remains the priority, but negotiations remain open to a March date should Billam-Smith pursue domestic opportunities through promotional companies like Boxxer and broadcasters such as the BBC.
We want to fight him on that ring February 21st card. And if that’s not possible, then if that [a fight in England] can happen in March, then that’s possible, too. Either way, we like him. There’s nothing in March yet for us. So if he [Billam-Smith] does go back to Boxxer and does the BBC fight in March, and in late February, then if we don’t get that big card together in February 21st, we’ll entertain that conversation.
– Kevin Mubenga
Potential Impact of the Safar vs. Billam-Smith Matchup
A fight between Robin Safar and Chris Billam-Smith represents a pivotal moment for both cruisers as each seeks to climb toward world title contention. Both hold solid rankings with respected organizations such as the WBO and IBF, and a win for either could substantially increase momentum for a future title shot. The anticipated eliminator bout on a major card also promises strong fan interest given their reputations and previous performances. As negotiations continue, boxing enthusiasts will be watching closely to see if this compelling clash becomes finalized in early 2026.
