Okolie vs Billam-Smith: Date, struggle time, undercard, prediction and odds
While Michael Conlan challenges Luis Alberto Lopez and Leigh Wood rematches Mauricio Lara in two featherweight world title bouts in Belfast and Manchester respectively, two mates and former sparring companions compete for cruiserweight glory in a blockbuster open-air stadium contest in Bournemouth.
Hometown hero Billam-Smith had all the time been pencilled in for an enormous May major occasion on the Vitality, dwelling of the Premier League Cherries, however a possible opponent remained a thriller earlier than it surprisingly emerged that Okolie was prepared to tackle the problem simply two months after his comeback win over David Light.
‘The Sauce’ has held the WBO title at 200lbs since 2021, but spent greater than a yr out of the ring following an earthly defence towards Michal Cieslak final February after an unsightly break up with promoters Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn and a subsequent transfer to Ben Shalom’s Boxxer.
Unbeaten Okolie additionally linked up with a brand new coach in SugarHill Steward after ditching Shane McGuigan in a tumultuous interval, however one other low-key victory over a recreation challenger in New Zealander Light, who subsequently suffered a light stroke, has completed little to drive again any momentum.
The Londoner is aware of he wants a giant struggle and an announcement efficiency to place himself again on the suitable trajectory, and he will get that this weekend.
Former Commonwealth and European title-holder Billam-Smith is an thrilling, skilled and heavy-handed take a look at for Okolie, trying to realise his personal world title desires having gained a trio of electrical bouts towards Tommy McCarthy, Isaac Chamberlain and Armend Xhoxhaj in 2022, together with a highlight-reel knockout of the previous in entrance of a raucous dwelling crowd on the Bournemouth International Centre earlier than Christmas.
Okolie vs Billam-Smith date, begin time, venue and ring walks
Okolie vs Billam-Smith takes place on Saturday May 27, 2023 on the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, with the capability expanded on the night time to fifteen,000 seats.
The undercard is because of start at 7pm BST, with major occasion ring walks anticipated at roughly 10pm. As ever, actual timings are topic to alter.
Okolie vs Billam-Smith struggle card/undercard in full
Lawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith
Mikael Lawal vs Isaac Chamberlain
Sam Eggington vs Joe Pigford
Lee Cutler vs Stanley Stannard
Karriss Artingstall vs Jade Taylor
Tommy Welch vs Amine Boucetta
Michael McKinson vs Lebin Morales
Lewis Edmondson vs Vladimir Belujsky
Mace Ruegg vs Dean Dodge
How to observe Okolie vs Billam-Smith
TV channel: Okolie vs Billam-Smith is being broadcast reside within the UK on Sky Sports, with protection starting on Action at 7pm and Main Event at 8pm.
Live stream: Subscribers can even watch on-line by way of the Sky Go app.
Live protection: You can observe the entire card reside on struggle night time with Standard Sport’s devoted weblog.
Chris Billam-Smith is assured of springing an upset in entrance of a hometown crowd
/ PAOkolie vs Billam-Smith prediction
Okolie is the apparent favorite to retain his WBO belt for the fourth time on Saturday, although he will certainly not have the ability to coast to the end line in considerably boring style as he has now in back-to-back wins over Cieslak and Light.
Naturally it’s going to take some time for Okolie to indicate the advantages of his new partnership with Steward, however he wants to begin producing extra pleasure shortly if he’s to understand his grand plans for unifying the cruiserweight division and doubtlessly becoming a member of the heavyweight ranks.
If the champion does present any indicators of slugishness this weekend, then Billam-Smith is unquestionably well-placed to take benefit. As a pal and former sparring associate of Okolie’s, therefore the whole lack of any of the standard animosity or needle within the build-up to this struggle, he possesses actual information of his weaknesses and the way finest to use them.
The incontrovertible fact that Billam-Smith – whose solely skilled loss to this point got here on factors towards Richard Riakporhe in 2019 – remains to be educated by McGuigan provides one other intriguing sub-plot to the competition, with Shane having insisted that he is aware of precisely easy methods to beat his former cost.
Ultimately Billam-Smith’s explosive nature means win or lose he gained’t enable this to be a boring bout in entrance of an adoring dwelling crowd at a packed-out stadium, together with his aggressive method doubtlessly set to coax a fiery efficiency from Okolie in the end.
Billam-Smith has by no means beforehand been stopped, however that would properly change right here in a valiant effort as he goes for broke to try to spring an upset.
Okolie to win by late knockout.
Okolie vs Billam-Smith weigh-in outcomes
The weigh-in for Saturday night time’s card takes place in Bournemouth on Friday afternoon. We can have the outcomes then.
Okolie vs Billam-Smith betting odds
Okolie to win: 3/10
Billam-Smith to win: 13/5
Draw: 16/1
Okolie to win by KO or TKO: Evens
Billam-Smith to win by KO or TKO: 7/1
Okolie to win by factors or choice: 9/4
Billam-Smith to win by factors or choice: 4/1
Odds by way of Betfair (topic to alter).