It was far from straightforward, but WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith produced an inspired seventh round packed with body shots which eventually saw challenger Mateusz Masternak retire on his stool before the start of round eight, retaining world honours at 200lbs in an eventful first title defence at a tense Bournemouth International Centre on Sunday evening.
And still: Billam-Smith retains, but it wasn’t easy
R8, 0:02 – Chris Billam-Smith bt. Mateusz Masternak via TKO (corner retirement), retains WBO cruiserweight world title
- Billam-Smith assessing his display post-fight with Sky and talkSPORT: “I respected him so much in the build-up, made it [the fight] hard for myself, trying too hard to land one shot. He’s very awkward, I didn’t respect his power enough… he’s been a pro since before I started boxing – 2005 and I started two years later, just shows how experienced he is, learning all the time and still world champion but far from the finished fighter.”
- Shane McGuigan, Billam-Smith’s trainer: “I had him a round down but we knew it was a hard fight, he tried a bit too hard early… when you apply pressure, you see what happens. He [Masternak] knew the body shot was coming and the last five rounds would’ve been tough work.”
- Former foe Richard Riakporhe (17-0, 13 KOs) awaits in rematch next, should the WBO order that mandatory challenge as expected: “I’ve never shied away from that, me and Richard boxed in our tenth fight and it was a risk for both… it’d be an amazing rematch, I’m much better than that and he might fancy his chances tonight but I know what I’m capable of.”
- Too close for comfort? Sky Sports broadcast reveal two of the three ringside judges had Masternak leading 68-65 at the time of the stoppage, the other card was level heading into the eighth round
WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith lost a handful of consecutive rounds early before again showing durability and dogged determination en route to forcing an abrupt corner retirement from first-time world title challenger Mateusz Masternak as a barrage of seventh-round body shots broke one of the Pole’s ribs.
Having dethroned former sparring partner Lawrence Okolie at the end of May, he finishes a career-best year atop the 200lb division before proposed rematches against two domestic rivals beckon as part of his 2024 roadmap. This served as uncomfortable viewing for a first title defence, but he weathered another scare.
“Double jab, right hook left to the body… knew I hurt him because he slowed right down after that, he had problems with his rib – Shane told me he’s got a lump there – that ended the fight so he knows what he’s talking about.”
- Billam-Smith reveals targeting the body was key in their Masternak prep
As I reflected on a competitive-but-unsuccessful European title shot against Tony Bellew eight years ago earlier in the week, it was always going to be interesting to see how Masternak fared against someone who shared some of the Scouser’s intangibles in his biggest fight yet and so it proved once things got intense.
Neither Bellew nor Billam-Smith were expected to reach the championship heights they’ve scaled, and yet there’s still scope for improvement as the latter reaches the final third of a career with legacy-defining opportunities still available.
The three other world champions
WBC: 33-year-old Norair Mikaeljan (27-2, 12 KOs), beat Ilunga Makabu on Nov. 4
IBF: 28yo Jai Opetaia (23-0, 18 KOs), scheduled to face Ellis Zorro on Dec. 23
WBA: 36yo Arsen Goulamirian (27-0, 18 KOs), ordered to box Yuniel Dorticos
This showing was testament to that.
Billam-Smith immediately got to work as the aggressor, pushing Masternak back against the ropes repeatedly in the first minute or so as the Pole’s high guard was immediately apparent. CBS the more active and he reacted well to being hit clean with a jab by landing a crowd-pleasing flurry in the final seconds of the first stanza.
Body shots were his tactic of choice early in the second, Masternak making it dirty with clinch work before firing back with a combo to re-position himself favourably.
A right hand landed flush for the Pole, as the section of Polish journalists stood to applaud their man in what was already becoming a gritty contest with dirty boxing.
Shouts of Master, the visitor’s nickname, rained down as the 36-year-old threw in bunches to finish round two on top. The split in crowd noise could make you forget this was Bournemouth, not Bydgoszcz in Masternak’s home country. One apiece through six minutes, the tension was now building much faster than anticipated.
Masternak caught Chris clean with a single left jab and dug body shots early in round three, Billam-Smith unable to find his range quickly as the challenger bounced intently and was connecting more to boot – they exchanged power shots and the champion smirked as if to acknowledge it was a round he had lost.
The challenger’s encouraging start continued
Into the fourth then, and Masternak’s excessive holding wasn’t dealt with by referee John Latham – so Chris had to take matters into his own hands, and fire from the clinch, quicker and exit those exchanges on top. That was easier said than done.
He did a decent job in parts, sloppy in others, but the visual of him struggling was an uncomfortable one for many to soak up. The last time he was in the same surroundings, the show was closed with a vicious fifth-round knockout.
You could see his dad passionately spur him on before the fifth, former foes Richard Riakporhe and Isaac Chamberlain among the interested ringside audience on opposite sides, and round five was nip-and-tuck with more messy work by both.
Masternak again landed the better single shots and was potentially 4-1 up through 15 minutes. While most boxing observers knew the dangers that lay ahead, whoever deemed this a showcase fight was wrong: the Pole looked to spoil Christmas for the Bournemouth faithful, growing in confidence with every connected punch.
Round six began at mid-range, which suited the champion if he could keep it there. Whenever he’d produce a good sequence though, Masternak would ping him backwards with a jab or body shot, then smother Billam-Smith’s work up close.
An effective tactic working well, finally the referee lectured him for illegal holding deep into the round but the overdue warning appeared to fall on deaf ears.
Another competitive stanza, the champion was getting caught too easily and it’d be interesting to see whether his flurries were enough to sway the judges as it didn’t exactly feel like a home atmosphere with the considerable Polish contingent making themselves heard whenever Masternak landed on his persistent attacks.
Round seven was more of the same, Masternak continuing to find a home for the right hand before Billam-Smith was finally starting to find his range somewhere, with sustained body work making the Pole take a backwards step towards the ropes.
5-2 or 4-3 down on the scorecards, you got the feeling that round’s success would stand him in good stead to step up, finish strong down the stretch.
Then, a bemusing stoppage arrived between rounds when Masternak didn’t get off his stool in time. His cornermen were still in the ring, some brief confusion came before the contest was waved off, an anticlimactic ending to a bout bubbling nicely.
“I believe I would’ve got to him because I was starting to line up the jabs, a shame he pulled out because I would’ve shown the maturity to adapt.”
Rest of the evening’s card as Whittaker does it again
R4, 0:54 – Ben Whittaker bt. Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj via KO
- Ben Shalom after Whittaker’s emphatic fourth-round knockout: “You just see how respectful he is outside the ring, a special talent bringing new audiences to the sport. I think he’s the future of British boxing.”
- Whittaker tells talkSPORT post-fight that by late 2024, he’ll be ready for his name to be chucked into the domestic scene at light-heavyweight with Joshua Buatsi, Anthony Yarde, Dan Azeez et al. Importantly though, he needs to stay injury-free and active against better opposition
Olympic silver medallist and light-heavyweight prospect Ben Whittaker will probably always be a divisive figure, but as he continues to grow, nights like these will stand him in good stead so long as the opposition step-up comes before much longer.
In the float bout after Billam-Smith’s st0ppage victory, Southampton’s Lewis Edmondson improved to 8-0 with a points win (60-53) against Dmytro Fedas over six rounds before openly calling for a Whittaker showdown next.
Since losing his unbeaten record vs. Padraig McCrory this time last year in Belfast, the Ukrainian has suffered four defeats including two on UK soil after Karol Itauma beat him 80-72 over eight rounds at York Hall in early October.
Showboating as expected from the start, mixed in with some sharp punching by Whittaker. The second-round was needlessly scrappy, Dredhaj unafraid to fire back in fairness to the visitor but this was another peculiar showing as the referee ticked off both before the third after some afters once the bell had rung in the previous round.
Whittaker scored a R3 knockdown with an equilibrium-shaking overhand right in the corner and got booed for showboating afterwards, as the official called another timeout to caution him once more for goading an opponent content to fire back.
That proved his undoing in the fourth, as Whittaker hit him with a razor sharp right-left combo and within seconds, the referee didn’t bother counting anymore. Dredhaj was laid flat on his back, not beating any count, and their contest swiftly ended.
While this was ultimately another highlight reel finish that will see the 26-year-old’s stock rise among those unaware of him, you wonder what might have happened had he showboated a tad less and been more purposeful with his overall work.
Boxing is an entertainment business and there’s no harm in expressing yourself, but we’ll have to wait a little while longer before those histrionics are put to the test against a live opponent who won’t allow him the same luxuries he’s had previously.
Price breezes beyond Bartot, wants Jonas-Mayer winner
Olympic champion Lauren Price eased to 6-0 as a pro, almost 18 months to the day she made her professional debut with a UD8 win (80-72, 80-72, 80-72) over Italy’s Silvia Bortot, who boxed former unified super-featherweight world champion Mikaela Mayer in Manchester over ten rounds (100-90) three months prior.
The Welshwoman attacked well against an opponent content to survive for large periods and with this latest statement made, it’s onto 2024 where she eyes the winner of January 20’s world title main event in Liverpool.
“That’s what I want, Natasha Jonas vs. Mikaela Mayer winner next. I’m an Olympic champion and had my [pro] rounds, keep getting better and better, believe I beat both of them in 2024.”
Cutler keeps composure to edge Egbunike firefight
96-95, 97-93, 97-93: Lee Cutler bt. Kingsley Egbunike via unanimous decision
Bournemouth’s own wins vacant English light-middleweight title, now 14-1
After edging past Stanley Stannard on the CBS-Okolie card, Lee Cutler again didn’t have it all his own way, but wasn’t expecting to against a tough Kingsley Egbunike display en route to a hard-fought decision win, earning the domestic strap at 154lbs.
The first was a predictably tense round, both having periods of success though Egbunike was outworking him early. Cutler landed the round’s best punches in the second, while the Londoner targeted the body well and you could start to see a cut emerge above the hometown hopeful’s right eye.
Egbunike boxed well and displayed good head movement in doing so, popping Cutler’s head back as the favourite was struggling to maintain range in round three.
Right on cue then, the fourth was much better from the Bournemouth man as he chained a series of right hands together and Egbunike certainly felt the piercing power judging by the shift in his body language whenever that shot landed.
The fight burst into a real slobberknocker in the fifth as the pair went back-and-forth in the pocket with Cutler producing the better work, even a few moments after the bell for good measure as the crowd roared their appreciation. It wasn’t going the full ten if that fierce intensity continued, and soon enough there was a reprieve.
Not before Egbunike returned to the body-head combinations that were working well earlier on and clearly Cutler’s defence needed to be tighter – easier said than done when he was setting traps to lure Obi into some phonebooth exchanges.
He landed a big flurry with the 30-year-old backed against the ropes with a minute left, the brawler having this fight on his terms and threatening a stoppage in the final seconds of round six with an opponent absorbing damage pinned in the corner.
Egbunike staggered as he sat down on the stool between rounds, aware a few more punches in quick succession probably would’ve seen referee Steve Gray wave it off.
Egbunike boxed well off the ropes for periods of the seventh but couldn’t afford to stay there and Cutler was digging down with body shots in response.
Round eight was where the pace dropped, Egbunike allowed a chance to showcase his sharp footwork and counterpunched his way into banking another round.
Cutler still stalked his prey intently despite not setting up his attacks and, perhaps bullishly, felt he would whip right hands whenever the space allowed to sting Egbunike. Had the Acton man stuck behind his jab, openings would’ve been scarce.
Finishing the round on top was key and somehow, we were into a final round. Cutler bleeding profusely above his left eye and they exchanged bombs – as you’d expect given what had come before – a fitting end to an entertaining scrap over 30 minutes.
Hennessy banks valuable rounds with points win
After scoring a fifth-round TKO win over Sonia Klos on her professional debut on September 30, teenage bantamweight prospect Francesca Hennessy would’ve naturally been searching for a superb sophomore appearance against Argentina’s Lucrecia Belen Arrieta to open the evening’s main card.
Hennessy moved plenty and managed distance well, sticking out her jab and swiveling while trying to frustrate Arrieta into swinging wildly and missing often.
The visitor pressed forward with intent to start round three, but wasn’t landing and instead found herself on the back foot before long, as Francesca landed two crowd-pleasing combos before the bell.
The 19-year-old did the same to finish the fourh, Arrieta’s back against the ropes absorbing more damage, but admittedly fleeting. That happened in the fifth, Arrieta looking clumsy as she slipped to the canvas in what was a faux knockdown before Hennessy put her foot on the accelerator as their exchanges in the pocket increased.
You could sense the teen getting frustrated early in the sixth as it became increasingly clear no stoppage was forthcoming and their bout became increasingly scrappy.
59-55 the final score, it wasn’t the explosive second showing many were hoping for but valuable rounds banked nonetheless as her head trainer Bradley Skeete confirmed they’ll move her up to eight-round contests before long: “She’s only 19 and fresh in the game but we can move her fast, I know what I see in the gym.”
McKinson makes it clear: he wants Avaneysan next
Michael McKinson threatened a knockdown on a few occasions and got tagged a bit more than he would’ve liked, but nonetheless eased to victory (99-91, 100-90, 100-90) against Musa Lawson to win the vacant WBC Silver international welterweight title.
Lawson boxed admirably despite being a few levels below the Portsmouth man, in what quickly resembled a lowkey sparring session during the card’s 5pm opener.
It was here, 53 weeks ago, that he earned a decision win over six rounds beyond the gamely Roberto Arriaza and it’s not harsh to say not much has happened since.
Taking a boxer’s unbeaten streak (11-0, 9 KOs) is always a bonus, sure, but the Ghanaian’s professional resume and credentials were relatively unknown despite a decent amateur pedigree. McKinson wants bigger fights and a David Avanesyan matchup remains the priority for 2024 after initially encouraging talks went cold.
Afterwards in the mixed zone, he told me: “I wanted him for this card, whatever reason… it didn’t happen. None of the domestic crop have boxed the guys I have, I went to Texas to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr… so unless they really make a good offer and it makes sense, I want David Avanesyan next.”
Picture source: Lawrence Lustig / BOXXER, quotes my own unless stated
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