For all the ‘new media’ chatter and debate, and there have been so many in recent weeks, there’s no denying how effective it can be when done right. Nearly six weeks ago, on the Sky Sports Boxing podcast, Lawrence Okolie, having just finished a mediocre performance in front of David Light unannounced, spoke in earnest about his performance, and in breath. next, claims he is ready to fill the void opposite Chris Billam -Smith on the Bournemouth bill scheduled for May 27.
Everything happened quickly after that. Within days, it was confirmed that Okolie, a cruiser class second-place candidate and WBO belt holder, would defend her belt against Billam-Smith, a sixth-place and former training partner. by Lawrence. Wouldn’t it be nice if it was always that easy? Of course, the fact that they are both part of the steady Boxxer promotion is why there are no hiccups, coughs or stammers in the negotiations and, perhaps, one gets a taste of life. What if everyone just left their egos at the door, got together and worked in harmony to move themselves and the sport forward. It’s ironic, then, that this competition – arguably the hottest on the British boxing calendar – will have to draw attention with two other ‘world title’ bouts hosted by the world’s biggest boxers. adversary, on rival networks, identical night. Okay, there were promises of incredible main event time to offset the logjam but that’s not the solution, it just highlights the problem.
But let’s not focus on that. Hackney’s Okolie, 19-0 (14) and 30, has struggled for various reasons to build after winning her approved body belt. Undoubtedly, this is partly due to the dilution of the title so much that the term ‘world champion’ has long since lost all meaning, at least to the outside world. Most of them have given up trying to understand the meaning of the title. championship structure – or lack thereof – years ago.
However, and for Okolie, it is also true that, even in today’s complex landscape, the right fighters – those with the perfect combination of charisma, relationship, talent and fame – can take their title and run after them. Boxers make belts and all that. Although talented and hard to beat, he has never been one to spend too much time on social media nor pay attention to the most influential people. It also didn’t help that there was always an argument about who went to bed first – his opponent or his audience. While certainly the one possessing the power to bend the skull, he is better known for his ugly victory the whole way.
But in Billam-Smith, 17-1 (12), he battles a boxer who could be on the verge of becoming a dominant star if he wins inside his beloved Vitality Stadium. And not because he’s a flatter or plays the fame game with his every breath. No, Billam-Smith is the typical British hero, an honest, humble man who loves his roots and has thus attracted a huge fan base in his homeland alone. . Perhaps the most important thing is that he never engages in a dull fight.
As a fierce fighter who has regained his masculinity in recent years, Billam-Smith is brave and interesting in a way his opponents rarely appear. However, for those who pay closer attention, Okolie is just as honest and uncompromising as his opponent. The fact that he was happy to come to Bournemouth, purposely playing the B-side and villain despite him taking home the silver trophy, speaks to his understanding of his image and willingness to make the most of it. On the contrary, that would highlight the confidence he has in himself, even if he doesn’t always make his business in the ring obvious.
What very few people fail to mention when it comes to Okolie is that he has never looked like a loser. And it is the deceiving effectiveness of the speed and distance control of the 12-round competitions that Billam-Smith is even harder to counter than the Londoner’s ubiquitous threat that ends the matter with a the swing causes drowsiness. Furthermore, the fate of Light, who suffered a stroke and had to have a blood clot removed from his brain in the aftermath of an apparently dull contest, should only underline how dangerous the Londoners are.
Okolie, 6ft 5ins, makes good use of his size but not in the way that Tyson Fury does. When he puts some snaps after his stab, it’s a serious weapon that helps him swing his monstrous right hand which he whips either inward or straight in the middle. The worse news for Billam-Smith, however, is that his leading hand is effective even if it’s merely pawn; Its sheer length was worth the nuisance that few of his opponents found a way to effectively counter. If a warrior strayed too close, Okolie would knock them out or he would pull out his inner python belt to stifle their ability to move freely. In short, he is a nightmare proposition.
But Billam-Smith, along with coach Shane McGuigan, will know all this from the numerous oral sessions that friends and opponents have shared. And Shane’s input here will be crucial. McGuigan’s Gym has seen a lot of talent come and go – including Okolie – but the Bournemouth player is the longest-serving member of the team and could soon become the biggest success story. Boxers who are content to place their full trust in a coach throughout their careers, like Billam-Smith did with McGuigan, are often the most successful and mentally strong.
The chiseled challenger won’t talk about what happened behind closed doors but his insistence on victory suggests he’s had some success with his headgear. Likewise, the fact that Okolie calls out Billam-Smith could mean that he’s also not really worried that the challenger has his number, too. The mystery of their familiarity only adds to the fascination from the outside. So does Okolie’s relationship with SugarHill Steward, the American coach has seen his stock price skyrocket due to his involvement with Fury, but that relationship aside, we We still don’t know if he’s as good a coach as he is. they will suggest.
Billam-Smith couldn’t stay out of Okolie and hope for the best. To win, he must put pressure on his favorite opponent, especially when Lawrence is trying to slow down. The beach runner from Stratford is adept at keeping the action moving, hurling powerful punches to his body, giving him a remarkable sense of presence when close and his ability to launch. His accurate and wounding combo punches are one of his best assets.
But Okolie almost always thrives in the face of such pressure. And while one could easily picture CBS bullying to gain points success, there’s a feeling Okolie will again show what happens when opponents chase him. While Billam-Smith’s defense has improved, he’s no longer slippery or elusive, and as the game progresses his eagerness to win could give Okolie a chance, perhaps in the last three innings at the latest, to score a signature KO win.
The lower card was hurt by the retreat of Mikael Lawal, who intended to defend his British cruiser title against Isaac Chamberlain but looked certain to open fire in superwealth when Smethwick’s Sam Eggington, 38 -8 (19), check out Southampton puncher Joe Pigford’s unbeaten record, 20-0(19). Midlander’s experience is no doubt inferior to his opponent’s but there’s a feeling that the long-legged Pigford might prove too refreshing.
Elsewhere in the bill, and in the same division, Bournemouth’s Lee Cutler, 12-1 (7), played against Harby’s Stanley Stennard, 10-0 (4) in a well-rounded match and let eyeing prospects Kariss Artingsall, Mace Ruegg, Lewis Edmondson and Tommy Welch.
VERIFY – Victory could get Billam-Smith into the big league but he has a big challenge ahead.
