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Chris Billam-Smith Forces Mateusz Masternak Corner Retirement After Tough Test

Written by Kerr Ferguson on 10th December 2023.

Masternak Billam-Smith

Mateusz Masternak retired on his stool due to injury after gathering a healthy lead over cruiserweight champion, Chris Billam-Smith.

Billam-Smith puts his WBO Cruiserweight World title on the line in a voluntary defence against 200lbs veteran Masternak in Bournemouth.

The hometown hero welcomed the Polish fighter back to Blighty for the first time since a unanimous decision loss to Tony Bellew back in 2015 for the European title.

It marked ‘The Gentleman’s’ first defence of his belt since upsetting Lawrence Okolie in May of this year. For Masternak, his first shot at a world title in a 52-bout career kicking off back in 2006.

Having sparred each other before, the action started quickly and neither man struggled to find his range. The pair traded jabs in the first with Billam-Smith likely taking it on the cards due to pushing the action.

He came out quickly in the second to his detriment, the gritty Masternak enjoying much more accuracy. The champion was caught too often, and that played out over the third, fourth and fifth, too. The Pole’s overhand right was finding a home, and he was doing well to get his arms in the way of Billam-Smith’s own shots.

The sixth was a close round, but Billam-Smith’s tendency to get caught walking in was losing him points. Masternak looked a little gassed, and the champion’s body work in the seventh was notable.

In fact, it was the deciding factor. Masternak pointed to his ribs and retired on his stool before the eighth – a disappointing end to an entertaining fight that was pushing Billam-Smith, who was surely behind on the cards, to the limit.

He moves on as champion, and Masternak is unlikely to get another shot at world honours.