CBS becomes World Champion
On Saturday night, the boxing world witnessed a major upset as Chris Billam-Smith defeated Lawrence Okolie in front of his home fans at Bournemouth FC’s Vitality Stadium to become the new world champion.
The fight was a messy affair, with Okolie suffering three knockdowns and two point deductions, and one judge inexplicably scoring it a draw. The opening round saw plenty of clinching and inside work from the champion, while Okolie landed a hard straight right early on, but it was the only notable punch from the first three minutes.
In round two, Okolie's physicality proved too much for Billam-Smith, who struggled to find his footing. However, in round three, Okolie started to hit Billam-Smith with some occasional hard right hands, which he would follow up by holding him instantly to prevent any response.
Round four was where the fight took a dramatic turn. Billam-Smith leapt up to hammer Okolie with a huge left hook, which knocked him down for the first time in his career. This was a turning point in the fight, and the challenger seized the opportunity to take control.
Billam-Smith was dominating the fight, landing some powerful punches and knocking Okolie down twice more. However, Okolie did not give up easily and kept coming forward, trying to land a punch that could turn the tide of the fight.
In the fifth round, Okolie appeared unsure of himself as he continued to initiate clinches with Billam-Smith instead of engaging in a direct fight. This strategy allowed Okolie to survive until the end of the round, but it also indicated that the champion was struggling to control the fight.
The sixth round started with the referee, Marcus McDonnell, warning Okolie for holding, a problem that had plagued the champion throughout the fight. Billam-Smith took advantage of Okolie's hesitation and landed a series of hooks that sent Okolie reeling.
As the fight entered the second half, both fighters appeared increasingly fatigued, and the seventh round saw little clean work from either fighter. Okolie continued to hold, and McDonnell warned him again for his consistent fouls. However, Okolie did not seem to learn from his mistakes and had a point deducted for his repeated fouls, putting him at risk of disqualification.
In the ninth round, both fighters looked exhausted as they approached the crucial championship rounds. Okolie's holding tactics had proven largely ineffective, and Billam-Smith seemed to be getting the better of their exchanges.
In the tenth round, Billam-Smith found the energy for another knockdown, landing a powerful left hook that sent Okolie to the canvas for the second time in the fight. Okolie got back up, but it was clear that he was struggling to keep his balance and fight effectively.
The fight was messy and lacked the clean, well-executed punches that fans had hoped to see. Okolie's holding tactics had frustrated both his opponent and the referee, and his repeated fouls had cost him points and put him at risk of disqualification. In contrast, Billam-Smith had shown impressive stamina and discipline as he continued to attack Okolie despite his opponent's clinching tactics. In the end, the knockdowns and superior technique of Billam-Smith proved too much for Okolie to overcome, and Billam-Smith emerged as the new champion.
In the end, Billam-Smith was declared the winner by majority decision, with scores of 116-107 and 115-108, while one judge scored it a draw at 112-112. It was a historic moment for the Bournemouth boxer, who dedicated his victory to his mother, who is currently battling breast cancer.
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