EDDIE Hearn described as “very good” cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith’s losing effort against Richard Riakporhe – and insisted he would give him another fight.

The Matchroom promoter on Saturday staged the Bournemouth puncher’s challenge for the WBA Inter-Continental title - which he lost via split decision at the O2 Arena in London.

But Hearn admired the gutsy effort from the former Poole ABC man and believes fans would want to see him back in action.

Speaking to IFL TV, the promoter said: “I will one million per cent give Chris Billam-Smith another fight, a million per cent.

“Look at Billam-Smith – everyone would like to see him fight again.

“I thought Riakporhe v Billam-Smith was great to watch. Riakporhe is crude but he hits so hard and Billam-Smith is very, very good.

“I said to Billam-Smith after, those two deserve credit because they both went in 9-0. You can’t be afraid to take those kinds of fights, especially if you don’t have that big TV deal.

“Look at the domestic set-up at cruiserweight. You have Craig Glover, Sam Hyde, Tommy McCarthy – this is a good division, so don’t be afraid to lose a fight.”

Billam-Smith was adamant he had done enough to dethrone Riakporhe on points during the contest but two of the three judges sided in favour of the champion.

‘The Gentleman’ also claimed a knockdown awarded against him during round seven should not have stood.

Also commenting on the bout, the Dorset fighter’s coach Shane McGuigan told Boxing Social: “It was a bit of an annoying one. The knockdown obviously swayed the fight.

“It was Chris’s first time stepping up and I think he held himself really well. He was blowing a little bit - he didn’t really know how to pace himself in there.

“I thought he won the fight but people ringside gave it the other way or there or thereabouts.

“It was a real ‘what are you looking for? Are looking for the power or are you looking for the inside work?’ It was pretty untidy on the inside and Chris was working a lot there.

“This is a little learning curve for him and he can come back. He knows it, he is at that level.”