CBS’ Biggest Challenge To Date
Defending his Commonwealth & European cruiserweight titles in a brutal battle on the beach.
"That's got to be the fight of the year so far, because of what these guys showed in pure heart and determination."
former world cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson.
BATTLE ON THE BEACH
Chris Billam-Smith Defends European And Commonwealth Titles
A piercing double chime penetrates the roar of the crowd and the two weary fighters embrace in a sign of mutual respect. He knows he’s done enough, so do the baying home fans that have roared him on for the past 36 minutes. As the judges’ scores are read aloud, European and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith has finally seen the realisation of his long held dream – to defend his belts in his home town of Bournemouth.
Sky Sports and Boxxer’s main event ‘The Battle on the Beach’ saw ThruDark affiliate Chris Billam-Smith face off against Brixton born Isaac Chamberlain in a winner takes all cruiserweight boxing clash at the Bournemouth International Centre. With both European and Commonwealth titles on the line and an opponent who has trained with boxing giants Oleksander Usyk and Deontay Wilder, the Battle on the Beach would prove Chris Billam-Smith’s most challenging endeavour to date.
PREPARATION
FIGHT CAMP
Preparations for the fight saw Billam-Smith turn to trusted coach Shane McGuigan under whose tutelage he has spent the last five years, winning 15 of his previous 16 fights. Training with notable names within the camp including fellow cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie and renowned super middleweight George Groves, Billam Smith revealed he tries to stay in shape all year round rather than the oft seen fluctuation of other fighters between fight camp and off season.
Chris actively enjoys fitness and running and regularly trains using the ThruDark Velocity Activewear he has helped design and test.
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FIGHTNIGHT - 30.07.22
Battle On The Beach
Fast forward to the night of the 30th July and the bout starts in earnest with Billam-Smith using his superior size advantage to take the fight to his rival. Delivering jab after jab through the guard of Chamberlain and backing him up to the ropes, Billam-Smith worked well on the inside and dominated the early rounds. However, his opponent would prove a dogged adversary and appeared to get stronger as the fight went on – buoyed defiantly by the home crowd’s jeers.
With some well placed left hooks, Chamberlain made the marauding champion think twice as he looked to march forward time and again through the middle rounds of the fight. Eventually, repeated blows to the eye would see Chamberlain suffer a broken orbital bone, losing vision completely as the socket swelled hideously.
Fight Night Photography by India Rose Creative
power and discipline
Consistency Builds Success
Apparently unfazed by the significant wound to his eye, the lively challenger fought on and continued to cause problems well into the championship round. Wary of the threat posed, Billam-Smith paced himself with a characteristic measure of power and discipline, seeing out the remainder of the contest and leaving no doubts as to the victor. It had been a real war, living up to the title of the spectacle itself, with both fighters earning their fair share of plaudits and respect.
With another title defence under his belt, Chris’ immediate priority is to support his family. In the meantime, he will continue to assist ThruDark with the design and development of fight ready activewear. However, with the lure of a potential world title fight on the horizon, he will no doubt relish another opportunity to lace up his gloves in front of the Bournemouth faithful once again.
Especially now his home town has witnessed first hand just how Consistency Builds Success.
VADER HOODY
As worn by Commonwealth, European Champion & ThruDark Ambassador Chris Billam Smith.
"Thank you to everyone that made last night the most memorable of my career so far."
Chris Billam Smith, The Gentleman.
