Chris Bellam-Smith stuns Lawrence Okolie to claim a three-time world title win in his hometown | Boxing News

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Chris Bellam-Smith pulled off a fairytale victory in his hometown of Bournemouth as he upset Lawrence Okolie to win the WBO World Cruiserweight Championship; Pelam Smith has Okolie to the canvas three times and – with a two-point deduction against the Londoner – wins a majority decision

By John Dineen, Sports Journalist

0:31, UK, Sun, May 28, 2023

Two points were deducted and three knockdowns were awarded as Chris Bellam-Smith won a wild world title fight against Lawrence Okolie in his hometown of Bournemouth.

It was a frantic clash, with explosive punching, knockouts, warnings, and all-out mayhem in front of 15,000 raving fans at Vitality Stadium, from which Billam-Smith emerged by majority decision and the WBO cruiserweight championship.

Okolie and Pelam Smith were friends. It was hard to believe given how fierce their battle was. Formerly gym buddies, they’ve participated in hundreds of rounds of sparring as well as a trainer in Shane McGuigan.

Photo: Okolie running with dangerous right crosses (Photo: Lawrence Lustig/BOXER)

But once Okolie moved on and left McGuigan to join new coach SugarHill Steward, he put himself on a collision course with Billam-Smith.

The Bournemouth man had steadily risen to contention, taking home the British, European and European cruiserweight titles, belts that Okoli used to hold.

Pelam Smith is so popular in his hometown, he reserved the football club’s 15,000-seat stadium for the date. After Okolie returned to action in Manchester in March, marking mandatory challenger David Light over 12 rounds, he delivered the challenge and said he would face Bellam-Smith just two months later.

Chris Bellam Smith sent the hometown crowds off when he threw Lawrence Okolie’s first career slam dunk.

Seeming to enjoy the boos that greeted him upon his arrival, he raised a glove to the crowd as he strode to the ring.

Pellam Smith, who was scooting first at the opponent, was serious, not smiling. But he must have been enjoying the whole stadium exploding in cheers around him. The reception was simply delightful and he stood, robe hood raised as he was wreathed in flames of fireworks.

It was nothing compared to the crowd’s reaction when Bellam Smith shot Okoli off the feet with an explosive left hook in the fourth round.

The champion started quickly, and made it to Bellam Smith. No relaxation tour was needed, they know each other so well.

Chris Bellam-Smith makes a great ring at the Vitality Stadium in his hometown of Bournemouth.

There were frantic moments where they grappled with one arm and landed punches with the other. But the 6-foot-5-inch champ was using his body, conquering Bellam Smith with his strength. He cut it short rights, too.

He scraped his left hook across Bellam-Smith’s stomach, and at times, instead of going for the head, Okolie let his right hook echo into the Bournemouth man’s ribs.

Right to the head seemed to tie Bellam-Smith for a moment, and their exchanges in the opening three rounds were taking their toll on the local favourite.

Chris Bellam Smith sent the hometown crowds off when he threw Lawrence Okolie’s first career slam dunk.

But Bellam Smith ignited the fight with that fourth-round left hook that blew Okolie off his feet.

The Londoner had to back off, he needed to clinch. But that took him a point in the fifth round and Bellam-Smith had a huge turnaround.

He pinned the champ behind pounding his right hands but the clinch was still a very repetitive aspect of his game. So much so that he got another point that referee Marcus McDonnell took off in the seventh round.

Okolie continued to attack ferociously, knowing he needed to land big shots to get momentum back his way.

But as he lunged forward, the seemingly off-balance left left saw Okoli stumble forward. The referee gave her a knockdown against him.

Okolie’s ferocious action becomes desperate but no less dangerous for him, however, Billam-Smith catches him at the end of another left hook and puts the champion into round 11 for the third time.

He looked like he was tired and had to deal with a nasty open wound on his left eye.

Photo: Bellam Smith celebrates his victory

Bellam Smith was hanging in the final round as Okolie loaded him with big jabs. But wait until he wins a majority decision on an extraordinary night in his hometown.

Judge Benjamin Rodriguez scored the tie 112-112 but Bob Williams and Diana Drews-Milani each got it with Bellam Smith by odds of 115-108 and 116-107 respectively.

Okolie has never lost a fight before. He was brave after his first defeat.

“I was there, he was doing a lot of good stuff and he had a good jab that changed the momentum,” Okolie said.

An emotional Chris Bellam-Smith reveals the photo of his downed shot by Lawrence Okolie and says his win at Vitality Stadium is the greatest night of his career.

“I love being the winner and the champion, I have to take my hat off to him, he did a very good job. We’re going to restart it.”

“I trained really hard because I know what Chris is made of. Today is his night, maybe I’m down but I’m definitely not out.

This was Chris at his best.

“I can adjust to losing, I’ll come back again.”

Bellam Smith dedicated this amazing victory to his mother.

“I have no idea what just happened. My whole life has gone so fast and I got to this moment, it’s just perfect. There’s nothing left,” he said.

“Against a great champion and close friend in Lawrence, who never looked close to being beaten, gave me a very tough 12 rounds. I think I did enough to win it, and I think the scorecards show that.”

He revealed, “I was sick in bed all week, didn’t eat from Tuesday to Thursday, and managed to put on a brave face, I just want to dedicate this to my mom who’s having breast cancer right now. Mom, this is for you. I love you so much.”

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