Former WBO cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith says it will be a ‘great fight’ between Ryan Garner and Reece Bellotti at his old stomping ground this weekend, predicting the Bournemouth International Centre to see another ‘war’ like his own fight against Isaac Chamberlain.
Just like Billam-Smith’s scrap with Chamberlain, both the European and Commonwealth titles will be on the line between Garner and Bellotti.
Whilst perhaps lacking the pound-for-pound power cruiserweights boast, ‘CBS’ backs the two super featherweights to put on a dramatic show at the BIC, which will be shown live on DAZN.
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Bournemouth’s hometown hero told The Independent: “It’s a great fight. Actually, I know Reece (Bellotti) quite well, as well (as Ryan Garner). He won the ABAs the year I was in it, but he actually won two ABA titles in the end.
“Very entertaining fighter, nice lad, lovely lad, exciting.
“Ryan’s obviously an exciting fighter. I think they’re very similar in the sense of their work rate and excitement. They always throw lots of shots, big shots, and I think the difference might just be that Ryan’s a little bit more well-polished.
“An exciting fight for the fans – they are going to be in for a treat. I think this would be similar to my fight against (Issac) Chamberlain, in terms of the drama and how entertaining the fight will be.”
Coming up to the three-year anniversary of the Chamberlain contest, Billam-Smith was still grateful for the opportunity to fight at the BIC, praising members of his team for finally getting a card staged at the venue.
He restarted: “I’m the person who’s boxed there, but my team fought tooth and nail to get a show down to Bournemouth, and then obviously, Ben Shalom and BOXXER eventually did it with the Chamberlain fight and that was it.
“I think there’s a lot of thank-yous to a lot of people that are to thank for that happening. Yes, I was the fighter, but the McGuigan family pushed really hard, especially Jake McGuigan.
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“He put in so much work and promised that it would be a show. Then it was down to me and Isaac to do what we did. We were lucky that week with the weather.
“It’s coming up to three years ago now, it will be this time next week, where we were all on the beach, weighing-in and whatnot.
“I think Jake did so much work and just pushed and pushed to get me down here, which is what we wanted for years.”
Professional boxing returned to the BIC for the first time 34 years when Billam-Smith headlined a card in his hometown, taking on fellow Brit Chamberlain in defence of his European and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles.
What followed was an all-out war between the two 200-pounders, with the second round in particular a topsy-turvy slugfest. Billam-Smith did more than enough, all three judges scoring the contest 117-111, but combined the two boxers put on a proper show.
Since then, boxing has become a staple at Bournemouth’s premier venue, with Queensberry following BOXXER in organising shows at the BIC.
Billam-Smith continued: “Then obviously me and Isaac as well, putting on the fight we did.
“With the fans, I think that if that fight had been a messy fight or one that wasn’t entertaining, it might not have been as good, it might not have been a buzz that we’ve had every time since.
“The fans as well turned up and put on a show. So there’s so many ingredients that go into it, but yes, I a bit of pride, a bit of honour that I’m involved in that, as one of the pieces of the puzzle, which makes it such a great place to box and continue to have shows at.”
Having won his world title against Lawrence Okolie at the home stadium of his beloved AFC Bournemouth, Billam-Smith admitted that perhaps he had outgrown the BIC, which holds around 3,200 for boxing events.
“I think so,” ‘The Gentleman’ responded when asked if the BIC was too small for his fanbase.
“I think it kind of is the case. I mean, it sounds crazy to say – I’ve seen Oasis at that venue! It’s mad to think.
“I mean, last time I boxed there against Masternak, it sold out four weeks early.
“So that shows how much it’s grown and how much the fans are behind me down here. We’ve done the stadium as well, so that was a special night.
“It does seem that the venues down here, well the indoor venue that we have, the BIC is a bit small at the moment.
“Never say never, I could fight there again one day. But I mean, it’s very nice to have that problem but at the same time, the stadium, you can’t fight at the stadium every three to three to six months either. So it can be difficult.”
Whilst Billam-Smith won’t be returning to the ring on Saturday night, he will be in attendance at ringside in support of his friend, Garner, and is anticipating an electric atmosphere at the BIC.
Having recently travelled to Madison Square Garden in support of gymmate Ellie Scotney earlier this month, ‘CBS’ believes that Bournemouth’s boxing home may even rival the noise made at the historic venue, even if it is far smaller.
He shared: “Well, I was at the Mecca of boxing in Madison Square Garden a few weekends ago – the BIC’s a little bit smaller, but the atmosphere is very similar, I will say that!
“But it’s amazing. You can see the value in coming down to the coast, putting on shows at the BIC. We didn’t realise it until we did it, but it’s built for boxing. It really is. It’s built for an amazing atmosphere, and that’s what it gives you every time.
“I was there in March for Ryan’s fight as a fan. Just a spectator, which was an absolute honour and pleasure to be that side of the ropes and just enjoy it for once.
“I had no ties to the show, I know Ryan and wanted him to win, but I wasn’t watching my gymmates, where I’m a bit more nervous.
“I just got to be there and enjoy the atmosphere which I once boxed in, and see it on the other side, which is a real honour for me.
“Yes, I was the first one to do it, it’s nice and we’ve done so many great nights there and I love that venue – I loved it before I boxed there.
“So even more so now, the nights I’ve had there, with the (Issac) Chamberlain war, the (Armend) Xhoxaj knockout, the (Mateusz) Masternak comeback. All those fights they’ve all been epic in their own right.
“It’s great to see other shows there and I’m looking forward to going again on Saturday, then seeing another great atmosphere and seeing the show.”
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