Billam-Smith dethrones Okolie to win WBO cruiserweight title

Three 10-8 rounds to Billam-Smith and two points off for Okolie

Full report to follow

In a thrilling night at the Bournemouth International Centre, Chris Billam-Smith has done what many thought was unthinkable as he dethrones Lawrence Okolie to become the WBO cruiserweight champion.

The referee deducted a point from Okolie in the second round after he hit Billam-Smith low with a right hand and then did so again in the eighth after the champion wrestled his challenger to the floor.

Billam-Smith was the aggressor and landed the cleaner shots throughout the fight. Two of the rounds were scored 10-8 by two of the judges – with the third a 10-7 round – giving the challenger a comfortable lead on the cards before Okolie was deducted a second point.

Okolie was unable to turn the fight around as Billam-Smith continued to be the busier fighter of the two and the scores ended up 117-110, 116-111, and 116-112.

The undercard is due to begin at 7pm BST with main event ring walks expected at approximately 10pm BST.