At the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth, located about two miles south-west of the Vitality Stadium where Chris Billam-Smith would later win the WBO cruiserweight title, the 32-year-old was seen intermittently munching on fizzy sweets while waiting for his chicken burger and fries. He mentioned that his favorite were the cherry ones, which he had to resort to after suffering from sickness and diarrhea just days before the fight. During an open workout on a nearby pier, he struggled to throw a punch as he feared the public embarrassment of his illness. However, just three days later, he managed to win a hard-fought victory against Lawrence Okolie in front of over 15,000 fans. Throughout the match, Billam-Smith managed to remain standing despite Okolie’s heavy punches. Billam-Smith fondly talked about his hometown of Bournemouth, his family, and the pride he had when the McGuigans took a chance on him six years ago. He also mentioned his mother’s battle against breast cancer. The fight against Okolie was not pretty, but it showcased Billam-Smith’s spirit and hard work. In the end, the scores were haphazard, with one judge scoring it a draw at 112-112, and two judges scoring it 115-108 in Billam-Smith’s favor.
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