CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH is about to face both Lawrence Okolie or Mateusz Masternak in the primary defence of his WBO cruiserweight title this November.
Billam-Smith has not boxed since he outpointed Okolie to safe the most important win of his profession on the residence of AFC Bournemouth again in May.
Okolie triggered the rematch clause in July however there has nonetheless been no announcement about a date for their second conflict and Billam-Smith could also be pressured to look elsewhere for an opponent.
And the 18-1 (12) cruiserweight has confirmed that Masternak is the opposite identify in the body for his subsequent battle which has been pencilled in for November 25 however could also be pushed to December 2.
“Lawrence invoked the rematch clause a few days before the deadline but I don’t know if they’re really pushing for it,” Billam-Smith instructed Boxing News.
“Plenty of the time I don’t become involved, I go away it to Jake [McGuigan] and focus on coaching. I do know I’ll be out earlier than the tip of the yr and that’s all I care about. That means I can simply prepare and work in direction of the date and crack on. They maintain me up to date with conversations they’re having.
“I’m looking to be out at the end of November ideally. That’s the timeline I’m looking at so I’m just waiting to hear who it’s going to be.”
“Lawrence or Masternak are the 2 almost certainly in the meanwhile. If it’s not Lawrence then it will most likely be Masternak. I’m world champion now so that they’re all good fights. Now and once more you would possibly get a so-called simpler necessary however they’re at all times respected people who you must battle.
“With Lawrence, I want the rematch next or not at all really. I want to get on with my career.”
Billam-Smith has develop into one of many nation’s largest ticket sellers given his vociferous following in his hometown of Bournemouth. However, given the time of yr, Dean Court is unavailable which leaves solely the Bournemouth International Centre, the place he boxed each Armend Xhoxhaj and Isaac Chamberlain.
But CBS has outgrown the three,000 capability venue which implies his ring return might come in London.
“The main talk for me is the end of November,” he added. “I don’t know whether or not or not that might be in Bournemouth. It’s a risk nevertheless it must be on the BIC which isn’t a very large venue. If not there it must be in London as a result of I’d have a few travelling followers.
“I don’t have a necessary due in the meanwhile as a result of Lawrence fought David Light earlier than he fought me and I used to be a voluntary. I’m not totally positive when they’ll order it however I don’t have that stress of getting to meet a necessary but.
“Ideally I get the next one out of the way and then start looking at much bigger fights. There are other champions, there is Richard Riakporhe, and I’m not entirely sure what is going on with Badou Jack at the moment. I heard a rumour that he might be challenging for the bridgerweight title.”
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