Lawrence Okolie is to defend his WBO cruiserweight title against Chris Billam-Smith at the Vitality Stadium on 27 May.
After a period of inactivity in which he changed trainer and promoter, he returned to the ring last month to outpoint David Light of New Zealand under SugarHill Steward, and in the fourth defence of his title fights an opponent with which he once shared a gym.
The popular Billam-Smith, 32, has consistently enhanced his reputation since losing a split decision to Richard Riakporhe in 2019 and, unlike Okolie, is still trained by Shane McGuigan. He and Okolie remain friends, and represent a marketable rivalry for the champion, whose following remains considerably below that of Billam-Smith.
“I’m pumped, I’m ready to go,” said the 30-year-old Okolie. “I’ve just come off a successful defence where I won all 12 rounds against an unknown but tough competitor, a national champion in his homeland. Now weeks later I am going in against a known tough boxer, the highly-ranked former European champion and current Commonwealth champion Chris Billam-Smith.
“Fighting someone I know well for a world title is a very exciting opportunity,” Billam-Smith said. “I’m elated to be fighting at the home of my beloved AFC Bournemouth in front of my phenomenal fans and on May 27th I will repay them by winning a world title.”
A fight between Isaac Chamberlain, outpointed last year by Billam-Smith and by Okolie in 2018, and Mikael Lawal, also at cruiserweight, has been confirmed for the undercard in Bournemouth, scheduled for the week after the Premier League team’s final home fixture of the season.
