Featured image credit: Crystal Palace
Professional boxing is set to return to the home of English Premier League football club Crystal Palace, with the news that Selhurst Park will host a world title showdown as the first major event in its centenary celebrations.
In collaboration with Palace, promotional company Boxxer will host a night of championship fights on June 15 as the South London club begins to mark 100 years since the official opening of Selhurst Park.
Leading the billing, Palace supporter Richard Riakporhe will attempt to claim the WBO World Cruiserweight Championship title of Chris Billam-Smith. Billam-Smith won his WBO title at the Vitality Stadium in May 2023, and will be defending it for the second time.
Last year’s event at the home of Palace’s fellow Premier League club AFC Bournemouth represented Boxxer’s first UK stadium show.
With August marking the centenary of Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “We are absolutely delighted that professional boxing is returning to Selhurst Park, with one of south London’s own and a big Palace fan, Richard Riakporhe, leading the billing alongside Chris Billam-Smith.
“Boxxer have put together a fantastic line-up for the occasion, and it already promises to be a spectacular night in SE25 – as well as a fitting tribute to our stadium’s centenary year.”
A percentage of the profits from the evening will go towards Palace for Life Foundation, Crystal Palace’s official charity organisation, who work towards improving the lives of young people across South London.
Boxxer founder and CEO, Ben Shalom, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Steve Parish and the team at Crystal Palace F.C to deliver a historic night of boxing at Selhurst Park as part of the stadium’s centenary celebrations.
“Chris Billam-Smith has huge support on the south coast, and we expect the AFC Bournemouth faithful to travel in huge numbers to support him as he puts his WBO world title on the line against the only man to beat him. It’s a dream come true for Richard Riakporhe as he gets his world title shot in front of his fellow Crystal Palace fans at Selhurst Park.”
As well as a number of pre-war professional bouts, Selhurst Park hosted a series of charity boxing tournaments during the 1940s and 50s.
Most recently, in both May 2011 and May 2012, international amateur boxing tournaments took place on the pitch, featuring fighters from England, Ireland and Scotland ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
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