Sunday boxing is on the menu with Billam-Smith vs Masternak at the Bournemouth International Centre, and it’s home hero Chris Billam-Smith that tops a Boxxer-promoted card, as he defends his WBO cruiserweight title for the first time against Poland’s Mateusz Maternak.
Sky Sports televise the Billam-Smith vs Masternak card live.
‘Gentleman’ Billam-Smith (18-1, 12KOs) has steadily climbed the ranks the traditional way, winning British, Commonwealth and European titles during his career to date. His sole loss remains a tight split decision loss to Richard Riakporhe over ten in July 2019, where the difference proved to be a seventh round knockdown counted against Billam-Smith in the seventh round.
Nine wins have followed, with two wins over former European champion Tommy McCarthy and a points win against Isaac Chamberlain included, and the 33-year-old bagged a dream world title shot against Lawrence Okolie at his beloved Bournemouth FC in May. Billam-Smith turned in a mature performance, dropping the Londoner three times on the way to a majority verdict win.
He now defends against the vastly-experienced, but ageing Masternak (47-5, 31KOs), a veteran of over 50 contests. With a pro career that began in 2006, Masternak is a former European champion, but hasn’t passed that level since, losing a thriller with Tony Bellew on the cards for the vacant belt in 2015. Since a points loss to Yuniel Dortocos in 2018, Masternak hasn’t fought outside Poland, banking six straight wins, the last a decision win over twelve against Jason Wheatley last October.
Prediction: Billam-Smith has big fights on the horizon in 2024 if he can round this year off with a win. I can’t see Masternak lasting the pace, and the home fighter can score a stoppage in the later rounds.
Whittaker tops the undercard
Olympic Silver meddalist Ben Whittaker (4-0, 3KOs) appears on the South Coast, and the flashy light heavyweight should have too much firepower for Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj (11-2-1, 3KOs) to bank an early win.
The vacant English title is up for grabs at super welterweight, where Lee Cutler (13-1, 7KOs) takes on Kingsley Egbunike (8-2-1, 1KO). Cutler has won his last six since being stopped inside a round against Bradley Rea in March 2021, and went ten rounds for the first time in his most recent outing, a close points win against Stanley Stannard.
Egbunike has also been halted in a round in a Boxxer tournament in 2019, and he has won two in a row since a six round points loss to Jordan Dujon last April. Cutler can take the title on points.
Lauren Price (5-0, 1KO) continues her education, and the welterweight can take a points win against the tough Italian, Silvia Bortot (11-3-1, 3KOs), who took Mikaela Mayer all ten rounds in September.
Unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Lewis Edmondson (7-0, 3KOs) should stay unblemished with a points win against Dmytro Fedas (8-4-2, 5KOs), who took Karol Itauma all eight rounds at the beginning of October.
