On The Watch “It’s All About Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki”

Cruiserweight Showdown

Today’s Zuffa Boxing Cruiserweight Main Event between Chris “The Gentleman” Bilam-Smith (22-2, 14 Kos) and our own Canadian Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (21-2-1, 20 Kos) was a very entertaining bout but did not have the outcome I expected at the Bournemouth International Centre. Real Talk!

Rozicki came out the gate with his usual aggressive self, looking to take out Billam-Smith with some very heavy shots but to my surprise, Billam-Smith stayed cool and calm and stood his ground quite impressively, never waving while hammering some very good precise shots of his own.

Rozicki showed his sturdiness but was met, surprisingly, with an opponent who was smart with his approach and just as sturdy. Both combatants banged heavy on one another and stunning each other back and forth turning this bout into a straight shootout. 

Both combatants fought in the pocket with Billam-Smith getting the better out of Rozicki who got touched up with some heavy head shots due to his lack of defense that costed him dearly as the rounds progressed.

I don’t think Rozicki was expecting Billam-Smith to withstand his onslaught but Billam-Smith came in this bout with the right frame of mind and the determination and strength needed to get through this battle.

By the seventh round, Billam-Smith stepped his game up and put up a series of damaging combination punches that had Rozicki staggering but still moving forward eating nothing but clean head shots. The inevitable was near.

Due to a tougher than expected seventh round Rozicki’s, corner decided to pull their fighter from taking any further punishment. It was a brutal bout for both combatants but the right decision was definitely made.

With this very impressive win now under his belt, Chris Billam-Smith is right back into the mix in the Cruiserweight Division positioning himself for another World Title opportunity.

Well done, Chris!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Gilberto Ramirez vs Chris Billam-Smith”

WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Unification

Last night’s Golden Boy/DAZN Latino Night Main Event between WBA Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (47-1, 30 Kos) and WBO Cruiserweight Champion Chris Billam-Smith (20-2, 13 Kos) was a very competitive throwdown at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Judging by how this bout unraveled, it was clear to me that Chris’ team underestimated what “Zurdo” brought inside that squared circle. Chris’ team assumed that Gilberto wouldn’t be able to stand toe-to-toe with a true Cruiserweight since “Zurdo” was coming from the lower Division of Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight to now Cruiserweight but failed to understand that “Zurdo” was always big and strong at those weights and damn near a weight bully who truly belonged in the Cruiserweight Division.

Prior to this bout, Gilberto defeated Arsen Goulamirian and relieved him from his WBA Cruiserweight Title which brought us to this Unification bout where Gilberto, a seasoned warrior did not back down from the challenge, but did step towards it with his gloves up.

Both combatants had their moments but it was Gilberto who boxed and moved and pressed the action going toe-to-toe outworking Chris, proving himself to be worthy of the Division.

Both warriors banged hard, throwing heavy punches at one another but as the rounds progressed it was Chris who started fading in the later rounds giving the edge to “Zurdo”. That being said I tip my “B” hat to Chris for never succumbing to the pressure when things looked bleak and ending the tough fight on his feet.

After 12 full rounds of action the Judges at hand scored it 116-112, 116-112 and 116-113 unanimously for Gilberto Ramirez.

This was a tough and taxing bout for Gilberto but the reward at the end of it was well worth the challenge. With this win “Zurdo” is now a Unified WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Champion and looking to contest the No.1 Dude in the Division, IBF/Ring Magazine Champion Jai Opetaia (26-0, 20 Kos).

Until then, congratulations Gilberto on a very impressive win.

Blaze