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Chris Billam-Smith returns to his Bournemouth hometown to make the primary defence of his WBO cruiserweight world title; Billam-Smith will field No 5 ranked Mateusz Masternak on Sunday December 10 reside on Sky Sports
Chris Billam-Smith will make the primary defence of his WBO cruiserweight world title in opposition to Mateusz Masternak on Sunday December 10 in Bournemouth, reside on Sky Sports.
Power-punching Pole Masternak is extremely skilled with a 47-5 (31) document and has lengthy been urgent for his world title shot. Currently ranked No 5 with the WBO, Masternak will problem Billam-Smith on the Bournemouth International Centre, headlining an enormous BOXXER invoice.
Returning to the UK for the primary time since his 2015 European championship battle with Tony Bellew, Masternak is using a six-fight win streak into the bout.
Chris Billam-Smith defeats Lawrence Okolie in an exciting contest to win the WBO cruiserweight world title.
Three of these wins have come by knockout, considered one of them a fourth-round stoppage of Albania’s Armend Xhoxhaj, who went 5 thrilling rounds with Billam-Smith final 12 months.
Having bought out the BIC on two earlier events, December will mark Billam-Smith’s third time headlining Bournemouth’s largest indoor area. It might be his first contest since May, when he beat Lawrence Okolie in entrance of a capability crowd on the Vitality Stadium.
Watch highlights of Mateusz Masternak’s convincing factors victory in opposition to Adam Balski.
Ahead of his maiden world title defence, Billam-Smith has dedicated his future to BOXXER by signing a brand new prolonged take care of the next-gen promoter, which features a dedication to rematch Lawrence Okolie in a repeat of their sold-out stadium battle.
That occasion was the largest boxing occasion in south coast historical past and Billam-Smith’s return to motion in December might be a triumphant year-end homecoming.
Grateful for the years of loyal assist, the champion requested the Sunday slot to be able to permit travelling Bournemouth AFC followers to return from Saturday’s away sport.
New WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith says is prepared for a rematch with Lawrence Okolie, earlier than setting his sights on a attainable unification bout.
“Mateusz Masternak is a superb fighter, he’s proved that throughout his career. He’s got double the amount of fights that I have – he’s actually got more KO wins than I have fights – and his only losses are at the very top level. His style matches well with mine and I think it’s going to be a very exciting fight, I’m really looking forward to it,” stated Billam-Smith.
Masternak stated: “I think Chris Billam-Smith is a very good boxer. He showed his warrior soul in his last fight and proved that he deserves to be champion. I have a lot of respect for him in that way, but I believe more in my skills and my experience. I’ve been dreaming of the world championship since I started boxing. My boxing journey has been like a movie, all the highs and lows. I hope in December we get the best scene. I’m looking forward to fighting in England again, the fans create a great atmosphere there.”
Chris Billam-Smith says Brits combating one another retains the cruiserweight division thrilling.
BOXXER founder and CEO Ben Shalom added: “Chris Billam-Smith wanted his first defence of the WBO world cruiserweight championship to be a big crowd-pleaser of a fight in his home town. Mateusz Masternak ticks all the boxes; he’s ranked No 5 in the world, he’s got a ton of experience and he rarely takes a backwards step. He’s a very dangerous opponent and Billam-Smith is taking a serious risk here.
“Anyone who has ever skilled a BOXXER occasion on the Bournemouth International Centre will know simply how loopy the environment will get in there and I believe this one will take that to a brand new degree, the group are going to lift the roof. We’re ending the 12 months with a assured Christmas cracker and I am unable to wait.”
Billam-Smith’s big plans
Billam-Smith has significant plans for the year ahead. He has signed a new deal with BOXXER and knows Lawrence Okolie will be looking for revenge in 2024.
“Lawrence is rebuilding for now. I’ve all the time recognized I’m going to need to field Lawrence once more,” he told Sky Sports News.
“It’s all the time been step-by-step. Win a title, then if I’ve to make a defence or a few defences, nice. But then unification is the one [he wants] and undisputed ultimately. That’s the plan.
“The domestic fights obviously are the ones that everyone wants to see, ideally you could get a unification in those fights but if not they’re massive fights anyway and they’re the fights I love being involved in.”
But he should come by way of a tough opponent in Masternak on December 10.
“He’s so tough, he does everything very well. He’s got good punch output, good punch power,” Billam-Smith stated of his subsequent challenger.
“He’s ready to let his hands go. We’ve seen how I fight so it can only be an exciting night.”
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