A deep cut above his left eye means he won’t be back sparring again until August, but it appears newly-crowned WBO world cruiserweight titlist Chris Billam-Smith will have a voluntary title defense on home soil later this year.
Masternak makes sense for CBS as Okolie rematch cools
It wasn’t pretty, and he conceded as much after watching it back – but that mattered not – as Chris Billam-Smith experienced a career-best night en route to outpointing former stablemate Lawrence Okolie at the Vitality Stadium on May 27.
Okolie was widely expected to trigger the rematch clause in their initial fight contract, but as time has passed without much in the way of a definitive plan for the 2016 Olympian, many now feel he’ll pursue a different route to be world champion again.
That includes a permanent stay at heavyweight, a dangerous but potentially lucrative long-term switch where he has flirted with for a number of years.
BoxingScene.com broke the story that Masternak could be called for CBS‘ first title defence, having previously been named the mandatory challenger for IBF champion Jai Opetaia before deciding to withdraw from the June 15 purse bid for that bout.
Sources elsewhere have claimed the 36-year-old had already been approached in the interim, with a road trip to challenge Billam-Smith an attractive proposal he was more willing to accept instead.
As far as logistics are concerned, the fight could also proceed outdoors at the Vitality Stadium again even with volatile weather a staple of the UK climate.
The 3,500-seater Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), where CBS beat Isaac Chamberlain and Armend Xhoxhaj last year, is now deemed too small.
October 14 would be the chosen date at the Vitality in that case, sandwiched on a weekend with an international break from Premier League football.
Richard Riakporhe, who inflicted Billam-Smith’s lone pro loss via split decision over ten rounds in July 2019, has instead now been mandated to fight Opetaia instead – they similarly have until July 14 to reach a deal before purse bids are called.
More analysis to follow soon…
Picture source: Getty Images
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