Chris Billam-Smith retained the WBO cruiserweight world championship after a perilously shut battle with Mateusz Masternak.
Billam-Smith engaged his Polish challenger with livid intent from the opening bell on the Bournemouth Worldwide Centre on Sunday.
However Masternak roared again into the battle himself, hurting the champion and clocking up rounds.
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Chris Billam-Smith makes his entrance in Bournemouth and is met by very heat welcome as he takes on Mateusz Masternak
Simply because the hazard appeared overwhelming for the hometown hero, he discovered the punches that broken Masternak’s ribs and noticed the Pole’s nook pull him out after seven rounds had been accomplished.
Billam-Smith turned an unlikely world champion when he dethroned Lawrence Okolie earlier this 12 months and for him the fairytale will proceed. Whereas Masternak, getting into the primary world title battle of an extended profession on the highest degree, will likely be bitterly upset.
Story of the battle
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Chris Billam-Smith takes the win and retains his WBO cruiserweight title as his exhausting physique pictures makes the ref wave off the battle with Mateusz Masternak gesturing in direction of a rib problem
The Bournemouth Worldwide Centre erupted when Billam-Smith stepped ahead to make his ringwalk.
Masternak in distinction was obtained with hearty boos however the Pole, the very definition of a grizzled veteran, might hardly have been fazed.
The Polish nationwide anthem was sung loudly in some quarters, so Masternak had introduced over his personal assist.
However it was nothing when in comparison with the singing and cheering of the champion’s British followers.
Billam-Smith made a quick begin towards Masternak
The chants continued all through the primary spherical and Billam-Smith did not hesitate to provide his supporters the motion they had been roaring for.
He obtained out to the centre of the ring and located the challenger together with his jab. He muscled ahead, lifting the large Pole on his shoulder when Masternak tried to lean on him.
Getting after his opponent, Billam-Smith lashed in a proper cross, essentially the most telling punch of the opening exchanges.
Masternak scraped a left hook throughout Billam-Smith’s cheek, however he did not appear to really feel it. He simply stored up a fierce tempo. The challenger tried to again him up with one-two, however the Bournemouth champion simply swept his proper down, and shrugged off a counter-attack.
He swarmed over Masternak in a wild third spherical. However simply as he look to be within the ascendancy, Masternak staggered him for a second. Billam-Smith by way of struck proper again.
However harmful Masternak responded and damage hometown favorite Billam-Smith
The champion maintained ahead momentum within the fourth spherical and clubbed a proper hook spherical. However the Pole, at all times harmful, launched three straight punches into him.
The battle was barely out its first third and it was already hurtful. Billam-Smith met him head on they usually hammered shuddering blows into one another.
Masternak turned on his class within the sixth spherical. He doubled his jab after which popped in a stable proper. He lashed in a fair tougher backhand after that and though Billam-Smith cantered in together with his personal proper, the robust Pole was making the battle a tough battle for him.
Within the seventh spherical Masternak swept proper hook then a left hook into the champion. These pictures appeared to take heavy toll. However Billam-Smith mustered a response, hacking punches on the physique.
That will need to have saved him. These strikes will need to have executed the injury and Masternak didn’t reply the bell for the eighth spherical, leaving Billam-Smith, and the remainder of the world might erupt with pleasure as soon as once more.
‘My hardest battle’
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Chris Billam-Smith offers his response after stopping Mateusz Masternak to retain his WBO cruiserweight title
“I respected him so much in the build-up. I said he would be my hardest fight to date and he proved it. I made it hard for myself, I was trying too hard to land one big shot,” Billam-Smith mentioned afterwards.
“I knew I had hurt him [with the body shots at the end of the seventh round] as he slowed right down. That ended the fight.
“I consider I might have gotten to him. I began discovering the jab. It was a disgrace he pulled out as I consider I might have confirmed maturity.”
Riakporhe next?
Richard Riakporhe is likely to be called imminently as the mandatory challenger for Billam-Smith’s WBO title.
“We’ll see. Christmas! I wish to be undisputed. I might be very eager for that,” Billam-Smith said.
“I by no means shrink back from a battle. Me and Wealthy [Riakporhe] have boxed earlier than however that was a special me.
“It would be an amazing rematch. He might look at tonight and fancy his chances so bring it on.”
That could possibly be one other stadium battle in Bournemouth.
“I think it is a bit unfair to talk about his next fight. That was heart-in-your-mouth stuff,” promoter Ben Shalom mentioned.
“It wouldn’t be Billam-Smith without it. It’s why he is popular and why fans come out.
“The dream is to get again to the stadium in Bournemouth, it truly is.”
