kolie vs Billam-Smith LIVE!
Chris Billam-Smith delivered on the biggest night of his career to become world champion in front of his home fans as he beat Lawrence Okolie on points in Bournemouth. The former gym-mates took to the ring in front of 15,000 fans at the Vitality Stadium, with Okolie agreeing to defend his WBO cruiserweight title in Billam-Smith’s hometown just 63 days after his last fight.
Okolie was dropped three times in the fight, the first coming from a clean left hook in the fifth round before two questionable knockdowns late in the bout, and he also had two pounds taken off for excessive holding. That left the previously unbeaten fighter far too much to do on the cards, as Billam-Smith got a majority decision after one judge, somehow, scored it 112-112 while the other two gave it to the home favourite 116-107 and 115-108.
“I was sick in bed all week,” Billam-Smith told Sky Sports. “I didn’t eat from Tuesday to Thursday. It was easy making weight! I had no energy, I managed to put a brave face on for the workout on Wednesday and the presser on Thursday.”
Live updates
Elsewhere tonight…
It’s been a huge night of boxing in the UK.
Leigh Wood has become a two-time world champion with a points victory over Mauricio Lara, who was stripped of his belt yesterday over weight issues.
It was less good news for Mick Conlan in Belfast though – he was brutally stopped by Luis Alberto Lopez in the fifth round as his corner threw the towel after a heavy knockdown.
112-112 is an unbelievable card. Three 10-8 rounds to Billam-Smith and two points off for Okolie. Madness.
Anyway, doesn’t matter now.
Billam-Smith reveals he has been sick in bed all week, has tried to put a brave face on it. Makes the performance even more impressive.
AND THE NEW!
112-112. 116-107. 115-108.
Winner by majority decision… CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH!
Got to be a comfortable win for Billam-Smith on the cards.
Three knockdowns, two points deducted for Okolie… almost impossible to see how Billam-Smith could have lost on points.
Time to find out.
Three times Okolie went down!
Okolie vs Billam-Smith
Round 12
Okolie has to chuck the kitchen sink and anything else he can find at this.
Not really happening though. Billam-Smith looks fairly exhausted, but he’s doing a good enough job to see this out. The referee is going to need an ice bath after this, he’s spent 36 minutes pulling them apart.
Even now Okolie is holding. Twenty seconds to go, looks for a massive right hand… Billam-Smith takes it.
There’s the final bell! Billam-Smith has surely become world champion in front of his home fans!
Okolie vs Billam-Smith
Round 11
Billam-Smith’s eye is cut, left eye has plenty of blood coming from it. Okolie has flown out of the corner, he’s throwing massive shots and looking for the stoppage. Still too much holding though, making it impossible for himself to put the combinations together.
Guess what? Another pause, another warning.
AND OKOLIE IS DOWN AGAIN! He gets up on the bell, it’s another knockdown for Billam-Smith. This has just been a disaster for Okolie tonight.
Okolie vs Billam-Smith
Round 10
Okolie down… AND THE REFEREE IS COUNTING! It’s a knockdown! Okolie has massive, massive problems now.
He’s not hurt at all and he has come flying at Billam-Smith, lands a huge right hand of his own. Okolie still in this fight, but yet again he has the referee warning him. It’s endless.
Billam-Smith has to have a wide lead on the cards. He’s had three 10-8 rounds. Okolie needs a big final two rounds to have any hope.
