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 Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper”

WBC/WBO Lightweight Unification

Last night’s MVP/Sky Sports Main Event between WBC Lightweight Champion Caroline Dubois (13-0-1, 5 Kos) and WBO Lightweight Champion Terri Harper (16-3-2, 6 kos) was an intriguing technical bout that took some time to unravel but eventually got going once the rounds started to progress at London’s Olympia.

Dubois’ speed and power were key as she was met with a bigger opponent in size and reach in Harper, who knew exactly how to stick that jab. The first few rounds were slow as both combatants were trying to establish themselves inside that squared circle.

Once Dubois managed to get on the inside pocket of Harper, the landscape of the bout completely changed as Dubois started to work her counterpunches with her speed from close range that started to do some serious damage to Harper’s face and body.

In the sixth round, Dubois was able to land a well-placed left hand that chinned Harper and dropped her to a standing 8 count. It was from that moment that Harper took a step back and looked hesitant in the following rounds and only stood her ground in short spurts.

That being said, Harper did throw caution out the ring in the tenth round and fought toe-to-toe but by that time the end result was already sealed. After 10 completed rounds of action the Judges at hand scored it 98-91, 98-91 and 97-92 unanimously for Dubois.

With this very convincing win under her belt, Dubois unified the Lightweight Division by retaining her WBC Lightweight Title and picking up the WBO Title from Harper and being awarded the Ring Magazine Belt for good measure.

Congratulations Caroline. Well done, you’ve earned this one, hands down!

Blaze