The Bournemouth International Centre saw the homecoming of Chris Billam-Smith (15-1, KO 11), and he successfully defended his European and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles with a superb points win over Isaac Chamberlain (14-1).
Billam-Smith was last out in April, as he knocked out Tommy McCarthy in the eighth round of their rematch, while Chamberlain took less than a round to halt former world title challenger Dilan Prasovic in December last year.
The pair unloaded in the opening round, with Billam-Smith landing with a few sharp right hands. Backed by a vociferous home crowd, the champion wobbled Chamberlain in the second with some heavy blows, but Chamberlain stunned Billam-Smith with a big right hand in response in a pulsating frame of action, but by the end of the round, the home fighter hurt Chamberlain once again. Billam-Smith worked well to the body in the third, but the next couple of rounds were difficult to score, with both having their successes.
It was energy sapping stuff, and Chamberlain seemed to be getting the better of the action after the halfway mark, but the eighth saw the fight swing once more, with Billam-Smith closing Chamberlain down and landing with meaty shots, and he was seemingly outlasting his opponent. The ninth and tenth were evidence of this as Chamberlain’s energy drained, and Billam-Smth’s engine was impressive as he controlled the championship distance to perfection, bossing the championship rounds as the contest came to a thrilling close.
INCREDIBLE FINALE! 🤯🤯
Billam-Smith and Chamberlain go at it right up to the bell ❗❗@Boxxer pic.twitter.com/IgeGeJOJvc
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) July 30, 2022
Three scores of 117-111 saw Billam-Smith send his fans home happy.
Chris Billam-Smith wins a punishing and gruelling fight against Isaac Chamberlain. Drama from start to finish. ⭕ pic.twitter.com/Of9P1zEypf
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) July 30, 2022
2020 Olympic Bronze Medallist, and Team GB captain, Frazer Clarke (2-0, KO2) made it two wins from two as a professional, as he stopped Ariel Esteban Bracamonte (11-9, KO6) in the second of their heavyweight six round contest. A well-timed left hand dropped the Argentine, and he was correctly stopped by the referee.
Frazer Clarke has just FLATTENED his man 😳😳@Boxxer pic.twitter.com/pL3Y7mR9Mq
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) July 30, 2022
Fellow Tokyo teammate of Clarke’s, Ben Whittaker (1-0, KO1), marked his arrival to the paid ranks in style, as he knocked out Greg O’Neill (6-7-1, KO1) in the second of their scheduled six rounder at light heavyweight. The Midlander was flashy throughout, and a massive right hand flattened O’Neill, who was unable to beat the count.
✨ 𝐁𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐃 ✨
Spectacular knockout with the dancing to match. WHAT A DEBUT. 🤩@Boxxer pic.twitter.com/jevkkCq7fv
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) July 30, 2022
A left hand body shot did the trick for Mikael Lawal (16-0, KO10), as the cruiserweight recorded a second round knockout of Crispulo Javier Andino (23-13-1, KO12). Stephen McKenna (12-0, KO11) recorded the same victory by the same method, in the second round of his welterweight bout with Facundo Alberto Rojas (6-6-1, KO0).
Mikael Lawal with another 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐊𝐎! 💣
He took all the gas from Andino there… 😮💨@Boxxer pic.twitter.com/nz59k5rUfd
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) July 30, 2022
Caroline Dubois (3-0, KO2) remained unbeaten, and she scored a third round stoppage of Happy Daudi (11-11-1, KO6) in their lightweight encounter.
The 𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 noise of Dubois' punches 😳🔊
Three from three for 'Sweet' Caroline…💥@Boxxer pic.twitter.com/g0Z7Unhfhm
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) July 30, 2022
At welterweight, Hassan Azim (4-0, KO2) extended his unbeaten record, taking a 59-55 verdict in his six round outing against Jacob Quinn (4-2, KO 0). Quinn was down within the first 15 seconds of the bout.
Credit to both, they left it all in the ring there 👏@Boxxer pic.twitter.com/GvKjcwz0oh
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) July 30, 2022
Super welterweight Lee Cutler (11-1, KO7) took a 58-56 verdict victory in his six rounds with Meshack Mwankemwa (23-12-2, KO14).