Britain's Chris Billam-Smith marks Zuffa Boxing's UK debut show with a gritty performance to beat Ryan Rozicki by technical knockout after seven gruelling rounds in Bournemouth.
Britain's Chris Billam-Smith marked Zuffa Boxing's UK debut show with a gritty performance to beat Ryan Rozicki by technical knockout after seven gruelling rounds in Bournemouth.
Former WBO cruiserweight champion Billam-Smith threw everything at Rozicki during an electric contest and finally found the breakthrough at the end of the seventh with a combination of hooks. After Rozicki stumbled back to the corner, his team threw in the towel and Billam-Smith climbed on the ropes to celebrate. Both fighters received treatment in the ring with Rozicki requiring oxygen before they embraced and raised their arms to a packed crowd who applauded their efforts at Bournemouth International Centre.
Billam-Smith did not take part in any post-fight media activities and Zuffa Boxing chief Dana White later confirmed both fighters went straight to hospital.
"I've never seen a puncher like that. The power that guy possesses is something else," Billam-Smith's coach Shane McGuigan told Sky Sports.
"As a friend, as a coach, it was horrible to sit there and watch but he stayed patient, he's been out the ring for a long time and there was definitely some ring rust but he outlasted an extremely tough man. "He loves a tear-up no matter where he is but when he's in the BIC it's even worse. He had to fight that way, Rozicki was exhausted after a couple of rounds but he kept coming.
"Chris is resilience in abundance. He's a determined man, a family man and everything you would want in a role model.
"The fight was all action from the first bell, with Rozicki leading the dance as Billam-Smith looked to land power punches and hooks off the back foot. Rozicki, who was fighting outside of Canada for the first time, was warned in the opening round for using his head and deducted a point in the second round for continued use.
After three rounds the pair started to tire as they gave everything to keep up with the high pace of the contest. Heading into the fifth, Rozicki was cut over both eyes and had taken some serious punishment, but the 31-year-old came back swinging each time and landed some damaging shots. They traded blows in the seventh round before Billam-Smith landed a flurry of hooks leading up to the bell.
Scorecards showed all three judges had 'The Gentleman' leading - 68-64 68-64 and 69-63 - before Rozicki's corner called it a night. Zuffa Boxing began staging shows in January and, under the stewardship of UFC president Dana White, has set out to shake-up the world of boxing.from British promoter Boxxer, with claims that Billam-Smith, Jack Massey and Sam Hickey were competing without "consent or authorisation".
Saturday's card moved swiftly with seven of the eight fights across the prelims and main card ending inside the distance. Ringwalks for the main event started at 21:15 BST, with Rozicki carrying a book in tribute to the legendary Jack Dempsey, while also wearing brown gloves and boots as a nod to the late heavyweight world champion.
Key local figures were also in attendance, with AFC Bournemouth co-CEO Jim Frevola sat behind Zuffa Boxing chiefs Dana White and Nick Khan, while UFC flyweight Lone'er Kavanagh and WWE's Finn Balor were also ringside. The Bournemouth International Centre has been known to produce some famous atmospheres for previous Billam-Smith fights, and it delivered once again.
The biggest cheers of the night came for the hometown fighters with Bournemouth middleweight Lee Cutler also picking up a win.for a fight with Australian cruiserweight Jai Opetaia. The pair were involved in a war of words via the media when Opetaia held the IBF title and Billam-Smith the WBO belt. Since losing his world title against Gilberto Ramirez, Billam-Smith has been clear that he is seeking the biggest fights rather than challenging for belts.
Opetaia is the current holder of the Zuffa cruiserweight belt and could finally meet Billam-Smith next, if White decides to match two of his biggest stars. Saturday's main event was a brutal contest, with Billam-Smith taking plenty of punishment and sporting a cut over his right eye at the end of the fight, so a quick return might not be on the cards.
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