Lawrence Okolie has stated he is able to journey to Bournemouth to battle Chris Billam-Smith at his hometown soccer stadium on Might 27.
World champions do not usually title potential challengers, however Okolie, the WBO heavyweight title roster, has publicly thrown down the gauntlet to his British rival.
Billam-Smith has a date set for his subsequent battle on Might 27, and the 15,000 capability Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth is booked, however his opponent has but to be confirmed.
Though Okolie solely fought on Saturday, dominating David Gentle to take a unanimous resolution at Manchester Enviornment, he is able to field Billam-Smith in two months.
“I bought out of the ring after 12 rounds, I used to be out of the ring for a 12 months,” Okolie stated. sky sports activities. “I am nonetheless in ache. However that stadium battle is right here. Are you prepared for that? Completely, I will come to Bournemouth, get my world title.”
He factors out that he’s providing Billam-Smith, a former gymnasium mate and sparring accomplice, an “unbelievable alternative to field in his hometown, with tens of 1000’s of followers, for a world title”, and Okolie would take “an enormous deduction at my finish. Large. Simply that will help you with the chance”.
“In the case of saying sure to a battle, I am in,” he continued.
“To field in another person’s hometown, give them their dream night time and I am nonetheless ready for a sure. Is not that bizarre for you guys?
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Johnny Nelson says world heavyweight champion Lawrence Okolie must develop his abilities extra if he needs to retain his WBO title
“I am in. We’ll discover out. I used to be ‘weak’ in my final battle. Was it rust? Am I truthful? [bad]? We’ll have to attend and see for Might, in the event that they take it.
“It is bizarre. ‘He sucks, he is boring…’ So report me. Report me and say sure. All I hear is quickly and blah, blah, blah. I do not know what everybody expects.”
Okolie opened the door for his British rivals to battle with him. Richard Riakporhe from London could be one other enticing challenger.
“Chris Billam[-Smith]British, Commonwealth and European [titles], he took the steps. Riakporhe [has] profile fairly than doing something within the final little interval. So these fights have worth that means,” Okolie stated.
“However by way of precise legacy, boxing unifications nonetheless supersede UK home fights.”
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Highlights of the primary battle between Chris Billam-Smith and Armend Xhoxhaj on the Bournemouth Worldwide Middle
Okolie would, nonetheless, put his personal world title unification ambitions on maintain to do the fights with Billam-Smith or Riakporhe, “in order that I present people who it isn’t shut between me and people guys. However solely the time will inform.”
“I am simply utterly flabbergasted by all these guys, why would not somebody say, ‘Yeah, then he is [rubbish] I’ll [mess] him. Why would not anybody say that?
“I can not think about being a 32-year-old, 33-year-old man, with all that ambition, a number of years left in boxing, you’ve got a champion in your nation who says you do not even need to be obligatory.
“You do not even need to be obligatory. You are a troublesome battle however I will take it anyway. Let’s do it. And also you’re umming and ahhing.”
“What’s going on?”
Let’s do that!
Billam-Smith responded publicly as quickly as he noticed Okolie’s problem. He hosted the battle.
On social media, Billam-Smith stated, “No umming and ahhing from me mate. Let’s do that.”
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