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Home hero Chris Billam-Smith returns to boxing at the Bournemouth International Centre, live on Sky Sports on December 17.
The Bournemouth cruiserweight will face the dangerous Kosovar Armend Xhoxhaj.
Billam-Smith is coming off one of the best fights of the year, when he defended his European and Commonwealth titles in an exciting 12 round match against Isaac Chamberlain.
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Billam-Smith has set his sights on the World Cup after his hometown battle in Bournemouth against Armend Xhoxhaj in December.
Now he welcomes Xhoxhaj to what is guaranteed to be a deaf space in his hometown.
Kosovan, based in Germany, has a record of 14-2 (7 KOs). Xhoxhaj’s seven-time winning streak was ended by former European champion Mateusz Masternak last year.
But the 28-year-old – known as ‘The Bombardier’ - beat Roman Fress back in May for the WBO Inter-Continental cruiserweight title and will be heading to the south coast looking to celebrate another major upset.
Billam-Smith has only lost once in his professional career and that was a 2019 decision back to Richard Riakporhe.
Since then it has gone from strength to strength. He knocked out Craig Glover and Nathan Thorley won and defended his Commonwealth title. He added the British and European Championship to his list of awards when he defeated Tommy McCarthy and earlier this year he won against McCarthy when he stopped him in eight rounds.
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Billam-Smith defeated Isaac Chamberlain by decision in the 12th round in Bournemouth
His battle with Chamberlain in Bournemouth in July is already being hailed as one of the most exciting fights of 2022.
“I can’t wait to get back to Bournemouth in front of the best conditions in the country,” said Billam-Smith.
“The last time was nothing amazing: the fight itself, the atmosphere, the atmosphere. This is the last step before the world title. I will put on a world show that deserves this opportunity and amazing support.”
Dan Azeez will put the British Heavyweight Championship on the line against Liverpool’s Rocky Fielding.
Azeez played well when he beat Hosea Burton last year to win the trophy and impressed Liverpool again in September when he beat Shakan Pitters.
Billam-Smith is always entertaining
At Fielding, however, he met an experienced opponent who had fought at a higher level. Fielding’s only losses came against middleweight champion Callum Smith and Mexican heavyweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
Tokyo Olympian Caroline Dubois starred on the historic Claressa Shields vs. Savannah Marshall card in October when she defeated Milena Koleva. She returned to Bournemouth where she also impressed when she stopped at Happy Daudi in July.
Heavyweight Viddal Riley made a quick return to action after winning his match against Ross McGuigan last weekend in Manchester.
Bournemouth’s own Lee Cutler (11-1, 7 KOs) will be keen to spread some joy to the home fans in attendance.
Billam-Smith celebrates after beating Chamberlain (Photo: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER)
“We were blown away by the conference in Bournemouth earlier this summer and it’s great to be back there in December,” said BOXXER founder and CEO Ben Shalom.
“Chris Billam-Smith tore the roof off the place with his win over Isaac Chamberlain. The noise was intense and the atmosphere was absolutely electric.
“I expect his fans to reach a new level as ‘CBS’ tries to continue the journey to the World Cup with Armend Xhoxhaj.
“We have a lot of attention as ‘Super’ Dan Azeez takes on Rocky Fielding. Rocky is a world class fighter, a big name in the UK and his only losses are against Canelo Alvarez and Callum Smith.
“With Caroline Dubois and Vidal Riley in action again, this card is the first gift for British boxing fans.”
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