Lawrence Okolie has declared he is ready to travel to Bournemouth to struggle Chris Billam-Smith in his hometown’s soccer stadium on Could 27.
Globe champions do not ordinarily call out possible challengers, but Okolie, the WBO cruiserweight titlist, has publicly thrown down the gauntlet to his British rival.
Billam-Smith has a day set for his up coming combat, Could 27, and the 15,000-seat ability Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth booked but his opponent is nonetheless to be confirmed.
Be sure to use Chrome browser for a extra available movie participant
Highlights of Lawrence Okolie from David Mild as the Brit retained his WBO globe cruiserweight title in Manchester
While Okolie only fought on Saturday, dominating David Light-weight to get a unanimous conclusion at the Manchester Arena, he is prepared to box Billam-Smith in two months’ time.
“I got out the ring after 12 rounds, I’ve been out of the ring for a yr,” Okolie explained to Sky Sporting activities. “I am however sore. But that stadium fight’s there. Are you up for it? Absolutely, I will arrive to Bournemouth, provide my globe title down.”
He factors out he is supplying Billam-Smith, a former health club-mate and sparring spouse, an “astounding possibility to box in his hometown, with tens of thousands of lovers, for a world title”, and Okolie would take “a significant deduction at my stop. Huge. Just to enable you with the chance”.
“When it will come to actually declaring certainly to a struggle, I am up for it,” he ongoing.
“To box in another person else’s hometown, give them their aspiration night time and I am nonetheless ready for a indeed. Isn’t really that strange to you?
Make sure you use Chrome browser for a additional obtainable movie participant
Johnny Nelson suggests entire world cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie wants to develop his expertise even more if he wishes to retain hold of his WBO title
“I’m up for it. We are going to discover out. I was ‘vulnerable’ in my final struggle. Was it ringrust? Am I just [bad]? We’ll have to wait and see for May well, if they just take it.
“It’s weird. ‘He’s rubbish, he is boring…’ Then expose me. Expose me and say indeed. All I ever listen to is quickly and blah, blah, blah. I never know what everyone’s waiting around for.”
Okolie has opened the doorway for his British rivals to get the fight with him. London’s Richard Riakporhe would be an additional desirable challenger.
“Chris Billam[-Smith], British, Commonwealth and European [titles], he’s done the measures. Riakporhe [has] profile as opposed to in fact performed nearly anything in the final very little time period. So people fights have value in that way,” Okolie stated.
“But in phrases of genuine legacy, boxing unifications always supersede British domestic struggle.”
Be sure to use Chrome browser for a far more available video player
Highlights of the major occasion combat involving Chris Billam-Smith and Armend Xhoxhaj at the Bournemouth International Centre
Okolie nevertheless would put his have ambitions of unifying environment titles on keep to make the fights with Billam-Smith or Riakporhe, “for me to just demonstrate individuals it’s not shut among me and these guys. But only time will convey to.”
“I’m just completely flabbergasted by all these men, why somebody would not say, ‘Yes, following, he’s [rubbish] I’m heading to [mess] him up.’ Why is no a single saying that?
“I can not picture currently being a 32-12 months-previous, 33-calendar year-previous, with all this ambition, a several many years remaining in boxing, you have acquired a champion in your place that’s saying you really don’t even will need to be required.
“You don’t even have to have to be mandatory. You are a rough struggle but I will nonetheless acquire it. Let us do it. And you are ‘umming and ahhing’.
“What is heading on?”
Let’s do this!
Billam-Smith responded publicly as quickly as he observed Okolie’s obstacle. He welcomed the battle.
On social media, Billam-Smith mentioned: “No umming and ahhing from me mate. Let’s do this.”
