Lawrence Okolie: record, next fight and profile →
Cruiserweight contender Lawrence Okolie had an army of firsts last Saturday night at Vitality Stadium. He went down for the first time, and he lost as a pro for the first time. In a big upset, hometown hero Chris Billam-Smith secured a twelve round decision over Okolie to capture the WBO world title.
Cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie will be pushing for a rematch with newly crowned WBO world champion Chris Billam0-Smith. Before a frenzied crowd at Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, Billam-Smith dropped Okolie three times to secure a twelve round majority decision win.
Billam-Smith, Okolie Fight Photos Gallery - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth - For the WBO cruiserweight title, Chris Billam-Smith (18-1, 13 KOs) put in a shocking performance as he scored three knockdowns to become a world champion, with a twelve round majority decision over previously undefeated Lawrence Okolie (19-1, 14 KOs). (photos by Lawrence Lustig)
On Saturday night, Chris Billam-Smith pulled off a big upset when he took a majority decision victory (112-112, 116-107, 115-108) over unbeaten Lawrence Okolie to become the WBO cruiserweight world champion in front of 15,000 hometown fans at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth.
Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth - For the WBO cruiserweight title, Chris Billam-Smith (18-1, 13 KOs) put in a shocking performance as he scored three knockdowns to become a world champion, with a twelve round majority decision over previously undefeated Lawrence Okolie (19-1, 14 KOs).
Chris Billam-Smith has hit Lawrence Okolie countless times while wearing 18-ounce gloves during the hundreds of rounds they’ve sparred against one another.
Lawrence Okolie could not have been more thrilled to provide a title opportunity for his former stablemate. That point was emphasized by the unbeaten WBO cruiserweight title during the final pre-fight press conference ahead of his upcoming defense versus Chris Billam-Smith. The fight represents a homecoming for the challenger, with their Sky Sports main event airing live this Saturday from Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England.
Okolie, Billam-Smith Weights Photos Gallery - On Saturday, May 27, cruiserweight rivals Lawrence ‘The Sauce’ Okolie (19-0, 14 KO’s) and Chris ‘The Gentleman’ Billam-Smith (17-1, 12 KO’s) will square off in a world championship title clash, live and exclusively in the UK & Republic of Ireland on Sky Sports. (photos by Lawrence Lustig)
Lawrence Okolie broke away from his faceoff with Chris Billam-Smith pretty quickly again Friday afternoon after the friends and former sparring partners made weight in Bournemouth, England. There wasn’t any trash talk, pushing or anything else confrontational the day before they’ll fight for Okolie’s cruiserweight championship, either.
Cruiserweight contender Richard Riakporhe will be a very interested party in Saturday's collision between WBO world champion Lawrence Okolie and challenger Chris Billam-Smith at the Vitality Stadium.