It was a slow start, very messy for sustained periods and physically gruelling as expected. Yet that all paled into insignificance for Chris Billam-Smith, who scored three knockdowns en route to a stunning world championship win over twelve rounds against now-former titlist Lawrence Okolie – his former stablemate – as 15,000 cheered their local hero on at the Vitality Stadium.
Billam-Smith ensures Okolie’s voluntary defence is his last
112-112, 116-107, 115-108: Chris Billam-Smith bt. Lawrence Okolie via majority decision, crowned new WBO cruiserweight world champion
- Billam-Smith scores upset decision win over Okolie, inflicting former champ’s first defeat since 2016 Olympics against Erislandy Savon
- 32-year-old dedicates biggest career victory to his one-year-old son Frank and his mum, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer
- “I take my hat off to him. I’m down but not out, I can adapt to a loss,” Okolie insists as he confirms contractual rematch clause post-fight
63 days after ending a year-long layoff with an unspectacular world title defence against David Light, Lawrence Okolie travelled to enemy soil and had a devastating display on his mind against a friend and former gymmate in Chris Billam-Smith.
Instead, the 30-year-old has to regroup and reflect on what went wrong as his championship reign was ended after an exhausting 12-round battle against a familiar face content exposing defensive flaws in ways his 19 previous opponents have not.
Through nine minutes or so, it truthfully didn’t seem like we’d end up at that conclusion. Okolie’s aggressive start was obvious from the off with dirty boxing, rough-housing in the pocket and physical work aplenty against Billam-Smith’s chest.
The challenger had to be careful, applying educated pressure according to the Sky commentary booth, but that was a task easier said than done. Okolie’s one-punch power is overlooked, and Chris knew he’d absorb some shots to do his best work.
That was clear midway through round one: he ate a right-hand clean, then responded with a left hook as head trainer Shane McGuigan warned him against being needlessly kamikaze and urged him to feint more in-between rounds.
R2 followed the same pattern as the first, frustrating Billam-Smith’s corner. Referee Marcus McDonnell wasn’t exactly assertive with warning the champion about his dirty tendencies – excessive holding, leading with his head and more besides.
You could hear the constant complaining shouts of referee! every time Okolie shaped to hold, clinch or tie up as if they were jostling for position and soon enough, those cries of perceived injustice outside the ring would be acted upon.
The official’s leniency changed early in the third round, eventually giving Okolie a stern warning which fell on deaf ears. Had he listened, rather than ignore being lectured as timeouts became the norm, perhaps he wouldn’t have been caught.
It didn’t stop him from continuing to drill elements of his gameplan: jabbing at range, while also throwing whipping right-hands to catch the judges’ eye, even if they weren’t always landing clean as Billam-Smith parried plenty on his gloves.
In the fourth, the fight turned upside down. Billam-Smith landed a pefectly-placed left hook as Okolie left himself defensively susceptible after another clinch exchange, with the champion holding frantically near the ropes, suddenly in survival mode.
Survive he did – just about – as the hometown hero couldn’t get the separation he sought to chain a three or four-punch combo and pounce on Okolie’s unsteady legs, as was the case against Armend Xhoxhaj in December.
The persistent, messy holding was a story itself
The referee had to forcefully break them apart five times in the fifth alone, before inevitably deducting Okolie a point for excessive holding to ironic cheers.
Missing wildly and reverting to bad habits, the Vitality Stadium crowd loudly voiced their discontent before it dawned on the titlist: his grasp on this was slipping rapidly.
The champion was warned twice more in the sixth, leading with his head, as Billam-Smith didn’t mask his bemusement at these tactics. Even still, the challenger couldn’t afford to get distracted or let his frustration fester into complacency.
Billam-Smith landed a big left hand in the latter stages of the sixth, Okolie fired back with a sneaky right seconds before the bell, while the jeopardy still lingered for both.
McGuigan was said to be animated with his instructions before round seven, Billam-Smith looking a little weary and who could blame him? Okolie’s best work was fleetingly behind the jab, before more of the same issues resurfaced – more holding.
McDonnell gave the 30-year-old all the grace he could, before eventually deducting another point in the final seconds of another messy round which ended with one of Billam-Smith’s team having to hold him from being pushed out of the ring.
Okolie threw caution to the wind early in the eighth, swinging haymakers and trying to pin Billam-Smith on his back foot. He knew whatever happened next, this couldn’t go the distance if he wanted to retain his world title.
Whenever he would find success though, he’d immediately undo it by smothering his work and hold. They traded big shots in the pocket, Okolie’s concussive hooks and right-hands bounced off the challenger’s head, and still they went on.
The strategy was the same to start R9, but this time, he was punished for leaning his bodyweight towards Chris’ left hook punch. That tendency allowed him space to land that patented shot, finishing the round strong.
Okolie was counted for an abrupt knockdown a minute into R10 and that fired him into action once more as he landed a series of fight-ending lefts and rights which would’ve shut the lights out for most contenders. Billam-Smith rode them well.
Had he shown composure to better time the attacks, not lead with his head or hold after throwing wildly, Okolie would’ve maintained pressure with power punches.
Instead, the onslaught was furious but patchy as more of the same punctuated the air early in R11 – an intense flurry by a champion who couldn’t dent Billam-Smith enough to stop him marching forward regardless.
If there was questions over the legitimacy of knockdown no. 2, no complaints came a round later as Billam-Smith swiveled off the ropes and floored him again late in the penultimate round – an unanswered five-punch sequence put Okolie on the canvas.
Billam-Smith just needed to err on the side of caution and stay defensively responsible to clinch his first world title. Nullifying him expertly, the job was done.
Having managed Okolie’s physicality, matching him for strength, being unafraid to work on the inside or trade with a heavy-handed champion, he achieved his dream.
Rest of the card’s results
Light-heavy: Lewis Edmundson bt. Petar Nosic via TD (50-45), head clash saw Nosic unable to continue
Heavyweight: Tommy Welch bt. Amine Boucetta via UD (59-55)
Analysis, what’s next?
During an emotional post-fight interview in the ring, the new champion had plenty to say while revealing he had kept an illness quiet during fight week.
“My life has gone so quick, this is perfect, nothing more against a friend – very tough 12 rounds, I did enough to win and the scorecards showed it. I’ve been sick in bed all week, didn’t eat Tuesday through Thursday and had no energy.
I pictured dropping him with the left hook, that’s what I envisioned, [Shane] McGuigan took me [under his wing] on a whim, no words, it hasn’t sunk in. Crazy, greatest night of my career – you [fans] created it for me, a world title in-front of my home crowd.”
When asked how he’ll top this night, Chris answered emphatically: he won’t.
Much like Joe Cordina last summer, and perhaps more aptly for his division Tony Bellew at Goodison Park seven years ago, you never forget the immense whirlwind of emotions surrounding your first world title. Especially someone like Billam-Smith.
He could’ve easily turned his back on the sport after a long-standing shoulder injury that hindered him as an amateur resurfaced in the pro ranks. Many didn’t think he’d make it this far, yet he persisted anyway to accomplish a long held dream.
Now, it’s time to rest and recuperate. A well-earned holiday is on the horizon and judging by the nasty cut above his left eye, he won’t fight again until November-December. Plenty should sort itself out by then at world level in the division.
WBC: Badou Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs), surprised many to beat Makabu in February
WBA: Arsen Goulamirian (27-0, 18 KOs), heavily linked with Riakporhe matchup
IBF: Jai Opetaia (22-0, 17 KOs), hasn’t fought since Mairis Briedis win in July 2022
For all the criticism of Okolie’s awkward and unsettling style, no-one had looked close to beating him. It makes the way he lost even more surprising, even if they’d sparred 300 rounds together in the gym and know each other better than most.
That he was comfortable being on record saying Billam-Smith’s inside combination punching was a strength, while calling his will to win – specifically in this instance – a weakness, aged like milk. He must rewatch and study this fight.
There’s an eagerness to reclaim what he lost, and naturally questions will emerge in the aftermath about whether this was a wise decision. The quick turnaround had nothing to do with it, but a curious coaching situation wouldn’t have helped.
Highly-rated trainer SugarHill Steward has been guiding him for two fights, and left unimpressed by his charge failing to do what was asked of him. Sure, these things take time to build, but will he efficiently implement the strategy next time around?
He can’t afford not to.
He looked sloppy and couldn’t deter an opponent suffering from a sickness bug during fight week. The task is even harder in a rematch, against someone who now has something to lose and will be confident of a more decisive showing next time.
Picture source: Lawrence Lustig / BOXXER, quotes via Sky broadcast
Mo and Sports 