LAWRENCE OKOLIE has LOST his WBO cruiserweight title to Chris Billam-Smith tonight in Bournemouth.
Billlam-Smith knocked the former champion down THREE times, and Okolie had two point deductions during the bout.
Okolie declared after the fight that he WILL activate his rematch clause to fight next for the WBO cruiserweight title.
- Result: Chris Billam-Smith def. Lawrence Okolie
- TV Channel: Sky Sports Boxing
- Live stream: NOW
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Stay up to date with all the action from the Vitality Stadium…
Okolie appreciates Billam-Smith performance
Lawrence Okolie was full of praise for the fight Chris Billam-Smith put on this evening to strip him of his cruiserweight title.
Having never been knocked down before, he was sent to the canvas on three occasions by the hometown hero.
While he realised he was bested tonight, he plans to bounce back and work towards winning his title back.
Credit: Reuters Okolie activates rematch clause
Lawrence Okolie has announced that he plans to activate the rematch clause in his contract from tonight’s fight.
He immediately planned to try and win his cruiserweight belt back from Chris Billam-Smith.
No news on any dates planned but we will be seeing these two boxers go at it once again.
Billam-Smith wins world title
You could see how much it meant to Chris Billam-Smith as he won the cruiserweight title in front of his home crowd.
Everyone at the Vitality Stadium enjoyed every round of his fight as he looked to dethrone the champ.
As the result confirmed his win, he dropped to his knees as you could see just how much it meant after all of the hard work he put into this fight.
Credit: PA Credit: Reuters
Okolie gracious in defeat
You have to give credit where it is due, Lawrence Okolie has been a good loser in this fight.
Congratulating Billam-Smith for his performance and victory was admirable.
In the post fight interview he tells the crowd how Billam-Smith was a worthy winner this evening.
Chris Billam-Smith wins by majority decision
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R12
As we enter the last round, Okolie continues to grab and wrestle his opponent.
It almost seems that he knows he is unable to take the punch from Billam-Smith and needs to grapple with him instead.
Okolie needs to do something here to stand a chance of any scorecard going in his favour.
He goes a big right hand over the top but it does not have the connection he was hoping for.
The bells rings and Billam-Smith celebrates like he thinks he is now a world champion.
Credit: PA Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R11
Okolie comes out of his corner throwing punches, looking to go on the forward offensive.
He seems to know with those two knockdowns that he has it all to do.
Billam-Smith has a cut above his eye that is bleeding.
He suffered that earlier in the fight but the Vaseline has come off and and it is bleeding once again.
Just at the end of the round, Billam-Smith lands a left and Okolie loses his balance and goes to the canvas and is counted once again.
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R10
The referee has a word with the corner of Okolie for a third time, he is not happy with what he is shouting into the ring.
As Okolie comes into Billam-Smith he manages to land a big left with causes them champion to drop to the canvas.
Once again he faces the count from the ref.
Okolie lands a big right and follows it up but Billam-Smith takes the punishment.
A far more attacking round there but the hometown hero may have just edged the round once again.
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R9
Okolie continues to lead with the jab and come in for the hold on his opponent.
He seems as though he is trying to grind down his opponent.
Okolie throws a big right but Billam-Smith manages to step back from it.
The champion is putting his body weight into Billam-Smith, trying to ensure that he cannot box from that position.
This a tight one to call at the moment in terms of scorecards.
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R8
Okolie comes out in this round, looking to throw more attacking blows.
In the first minute of the round he shows more of the form of someone currently holding the belt.
Billam-Smith seems happy to absorb the onslaught.
Okolie reverts to leading into the clinch with his shoulder.
He is trying to push his opponent into the corner over and over again.
Credit: PA Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R7
Okolie is starting to test the patience of the referee here.
Billam-Smith is constantly complaining of how much Okolie is grabbing him.
We are seeing less boxing, far more of the champ just grabbing his opponent and preventing him from punching.
Okolie has another point taken from him.
The referee tells him that he really needs to tidy up his game.
Very untidy round that one.
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R6
Billam-Smith seems to be biding his time, knowing the distance this fight could go.
Okolie is landing punches to the back of the head all too often.
He seems to be leading with the shoulder whenever he comes in.
The referee is speaking with Lawrence Okolie once again.
Billam-Smith lands a good left on the face of the champ to end the round.
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R5
Billam-Smith is growing in confidence as the fight goes on.
He needs to capitalise on the damage he did to the champ in the last round.
The fans inside the Vitality Stadium sing ‘he’s one of our own’.
Okolie has a point deducted by the referee, it is all going wrong for the defending champion.
Credit: Getty Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R4
Okolie seems keen to wrestle his opponent as well as box him.
He is dominating the round when out of nowhere, Billam-Smith drops the champion to the canvas.
It is the first time he has ever been dropped to the canvas.
The champion is struggling, his legs seem weak, that hit has hurt him.
That left hand counter by Billam-Smith rattled Okolie as it sent him crashing to the canvas.
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R3
The referee warns Okolie as he finally has enough of the tactic of punching the back of the head of his opponent in the clinch.
Okolie is getting more shots in but they are not breaching the defence of Billam-Smith.
He works the body whenever the chance arises.
When they are in the clinch, Okolie seems to be holding the arms of his opponent to prevent punches from coming at him.
Credit: Getty
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R2
If Billam-Smith did not know the size of the task at hand, he is learning the hard way.
Whether it be a body shot or a jab, Okolie has so much power behind his punches.
Billam-Smith looks to fight back and lands a left on the jaw of the champ as they are in a clinch.
The fighters are falling into each other all too often, Billam-Smith’s corner are not happy with the tactics of the champion.
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith – R1
It is a very rowdy atmosphere in the Vitality Stadium.
They want to see their man upset the odds here tonight.
Both fighters land early body punches.
Okolie seems happy to get into the clinch and land some kidney punches.
The champion manages to land a heavy shot to the head that rocks his opponent.
Credit: Reuters Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith
Okolie walks out with a message
Lawrence Okolie tells the crowd via the screens that he is a champion and there is no chance that Chris Billam-Smith is taking anything from him this evening.
He is coming into the lion’s den, Billam-Smith’s backyard.
The home faithful let him know what they think as he walks into the ring.
Ringwalks begin for main event
We are going to see the clash that decides the WBO Cruiserweight champion of the world this evening.
Chris Billam-Smith walks out to Adele ‘Hometown Glory’.
He looks psyched for this opportunity he has in front of him.
Vitality Stadium bouncing for fight
It has been a while since they have had such an atmosphere here.
This is a fantastic venue for tonight’s showcard.
All the spectators are itching to see this main event as Oasis bellows out from the speakers, everyone singing Wonderwall.
Main event about to get started
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith is the fight everyone has been waiting for this evening and it is next.
Okolie is the heavy favourite with the bookies for this fight but anything can happen in the ring with two contenders like this.
This should be a good one.
Eggington celebrates stoppage win
The series of punches he landed, really ended this fight in some style.
Pigford had no answer to what he had to offer.
He certainly answered some questions there with that display.
Credit: Getty Pigford vs Eggington – R5
Well that fight really exploded in that round.
Eggington was like a man possessed as he got a punch through the defence of Pigford which really hurt him.
He landed a combo of punches and Pigford was really out on his feet.
The referee stepped in and stopped the fight as his lights seemed out.
Eggington wins by TKO
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
