Chris Billam-Smith to defend WBO cruiserweight world title against Mateusz Masternak on Sky Sports on December 10
Chris Billam-Smith will make the first defense of his WBO world cruiserweight title against Mateusz Masternak in Bournemouth on Sunday December 10, live on Air sports.
Power-punching Pole Masternak has plenty of experience with a record of 47-5 (31) and has long been pushing for his shot at the world title. Currently ranked No. 5 by the WBO, Masternak will challenge Billam-Smith at the Bournemouth International Center where he headlines a major BOXXER bill.
Masternak returns to Britain for the first time since his European Championship war with Tony Bellew in 2015 and is on a six-fight winning streak entering the fight.
Three of those victories came by knockout, one of which was a fourth-round stoppage of Albanian Armend Xhoxhaj, who played five exciting rounds with Billam-Smith last year.
Having sold out the BIC twice, December will mark the third time Billam-Smith has headlined Bournemouth’s largest indoor arena. It will be his first match since May, when he defeated Lawrence Okolie in front of a packed house at Vitality Stadium.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch highlights of Mateusz Masternak’s convincing points win against Adam Balski.
Ahead of his first defense of the world title, Billam-Smith has committed his future to BOXXER by signing a new extended deal with the Next Generation promoter, which includes a commitment to face Lawrence Okolie again in a replay of their sold-out stadium fight.
That event was the biggest boxing event in south coast history and Billam-Smith’s return in December will mark a triumphant homecoming at the end of the year.
Grateful for the years of loyal support, the champions requested the Sunday slot so that traveling Bournemouth AFC fans could return from Saturday’s away match.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
New WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith says he is ready for a rematch with Lawrence Okolie before setting his sights on a potential unification fight.
“Mateusz Masternak is a great fighter, he has proven that throughout his career. He has had double the number of fights as me – he even has more KO wins than me – and his only losses have been at the very highest level. His style fits in well with mine and I think it will be a very exciting fight, I’m really looking forward to it,” said Billam-Smith.
Masternak said: “I think Chris Billam-Smith is a very good boxer. He showed his warrior soul in his last fight and proved that he deserves to be a champion. I have a lot of respect for him in that way, but I believe more in my skills and my experience. I have been dreaming about the world championship since I started boxing. My boxing journey was like a movie, all the highs and lows. I hope we get the best scene in December. Looking forward to fighting in England again, the fans create a great atmosphere there.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Chris Billam-Smith says Brits fighting each other keeps the cruiserweight division exciting.
BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom added: “Chris Billam-Smith wanted his first defense of the WBO Cruiserweight World Championship to be a big crowd-puller of a hometown fight. Mateusz Masternak ticks all the boxes; he’s ranked No. 5 on the list “He has a lot of experience and rarely takes a step back. He is a very dangerous opponent and Billam-Smith is taking a serious risk here.”
“Anyone who has ever attended a BOXXER event at Bournemouth International Center knows how crazy the atmosphere is there and I think this one will take that to a new level, the crowd will raise their roof. We’ll end the year with a guaranteed Christmas cracker and I can’t wait.”