Billam-Smith Stuns Okolie to Claim WBO Cruiserweight Title
A Night of Upsets in Bournemouth
Chris Billam-Smith dethrones Lawrence Okolie to become WBO cruiserweight champion
In a stunning upset, Chris Billam-Smith has dethroned Lawrence Okolie to become the new WBO cruiserweight champion. In a thrilling fight that went the full 12 rounds, Billam-Smith emerged victorious by majority decision, with two judges scoring the fight 112-111 in his favour and the third judge scoring it a draw at 114-114.
Billam-Smith, who entered the fight as a heavy underdog, put in a performance of a lifetime to secure the biggest win of his career. He dictated the pace of the fight from the outset, landing the cleaner and more powerful punches throughout. Okolie, despite his superior size and reach advantage, struggled to find his rhythm and was unable to impose his game on the fight.
The victory marks a remarkable achievement for Billam-Smith, who has now won a world title at the first time of asking. It also represents a major setback for Okolie, who was widely regarded as one of the most promising cruiserweights in the world and was expected to dominate the division for years to come.
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