Chris Billam-Smith Turns Away Masternak before the Home Folks in Bournemouth

It’s been a glorious weekend for sports fans in Bournemouth. The local soccer club went on the road and scored a stunning 3-0 victory over Man United at Old Trafford. Today, Chris Billam-Smith (pictured on the right), arguably the most popular athlete in the city, successfully defended his WBO world cruiserweight title, turning away Polish invader Mateusz Masternak who retired on his stool after seven rounds with a cracked rib. It goes into the books as a TKO8 as the bell rang before the fight was waived off.

Billam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) was making his first defense of the title he won with an upset of previously undefeated Lawrence Okolie. That contest was notable for a preposterous scorecard. Although Billam-Smith had Okolie on the canvas three times and Okolie had a point deducted, one of the judges scored the fight a draw.

Masternak (47-6) had the edge after six frames. Billam-Smith came on strong in the seventh and that proved to be the final round of the fight. His next fight is expected to be a rematch with countryman Richard Riakporhe who saddled him with his lone defeat, winning a split decision when both were up-and-comers.

Billam-Smith is trained by Shane McGuigan. Masternak had won six straight coming in since losing a 12-round decision to Cuban KO artist Yuniel Dorticos in 2018

Other Bouts

Two Tokyo Olympians were showcased in 8-round bouts on the undercard:

Gold medalist Lauren Price, a welterweight, advanced to 6-0 (1) at the expense of 38-year-old Italian journeywoman Silvia Bortot (11-4-1). A southpaw from Wales and a great all-around athlete (she also excels on the soccer pitch), Price won every round in the eyes of the referee. She aspires to fight the winner of the Jan. 20 match in Liverpool between Natasha Jonas and Mikaela Mayer.

Silver medalist Ben Whittaker, a 26-year-old light heavyweight, improved to 5-0 with a highlight-reel fourth-round stoppage of Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj (11-3-1), a 28-year-old Italian by way of Albania. Whittaker knocked Dredhaj flat on his back 54 seconds into the fourth round with an explosive punch, a short left hand. The referee didn’t bother to count.

In a match that wasn’t part of the Peacock livestream, slick but feather-fisted southpaw Michael McKinson (26-1, 4 KOs) out-classed the previously undefeated Ghanaian Musah Lawson (11-1), winning by scores of 99-91 and 100-90 twice. It was the fourth fight back for McKinson since being crushed by Vergil Ortiz Jr. in Texas.

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