Billam-Smith stuns Okolie to win wild, three-knockdown world title fight

Two points were deducted and three knockdowns were given as Chris Billam-Smith won a wild world title fight against Lawrence Okolie in his Bournemouth hometown.

It was a frenetic collision, with explosive punching, knockdowns, warnings and all round mayhem in front of 15,000 delirious fans at the Vitality Stadium, from which Billam-Smith emerged with a majority decision and the WBO cruiserweight world championship.

Okolie and Billam-Smith once were friends. That was hard to believe given how vicious their fight became. Previously gym mates, they had shared hundreds of rounds in sparring as well as a trainer in Shane McGuigan.

But once Okolie had relocated and left McGuigan to join new coach SugarHill Steward, he put himself on a collision course with Billam-Smith.

The Bournemouth man had steadily risen into contention, picking up British, Commonwealth and European cruiserweight titles, belts which Okolie used to hold.

Hugely popular in his hometown, Billam-Smith had the football club's 15,000-seat stadium booked for this date. After Okolie had returned to action in Manchester in March, outpointing mandatory challenger David Light over 12 rounds, he threw down the gauntlet and said he'd take on Billam-Smith only two months later

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