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Chris Billam-Smith Scores Devastating KO After Stoppages For Azeez and Dubois

Written by Kerr Ferguson on 17th December 2022.

In his second hometown show of the year, Bournemouth boy Chris Billam-Smith moved closer to a world title shot with a sensational knockout of Armend Xhoxhaj.

In the Sky Sports main event, Xhoxhaj started fast, rushing in, but Billam-Smith was measured – not allowing the huge support to take him off focus.

The second round was far from comfortable for the home fighter, and Xhoxhaj hurt him with a right hand before finishing the round strong. Billam-Smith’s work had noticeably slowed.

The Kosovo fighter threw himself at the Brit in the third but Billam-Smith had his energy back and found more success with the distance now judged.

The Commonwealth champion had another good fourth, but he was caught well a couple of times – a stark reminder that he still had to bide his time. On top of that, a nasty cut appeared above his left eye.

The tide turned massively in the fifth. Billam-Smith produced a nasty knockout coming from a flurry of shots – uppercuts, hooks, body, head – that landed totally clean. Xhoxhaj looked out before he hit the canvas, and the winner calmed the crowd as his opponent was seen to by the ringside physicians.

‘CBS’ weathered an early storm against an opponent who has upset the odds before in a fight that took a bit more out of him than many thought it might – but it’s the spectacular finish that will be remembered.

Xhoxhaj was up and well by the end, which was good to see.

It was a 12th win by knockout for ‘The Gentleman’, taking his record to 17-1 – that one loss to Richard Riakporhe back in 2019. The Shane McGuigan trained fighter now looks to a big 2023 with one of the cruiserweight world champion’s – most likely the IBF’s Jai Opetaia – in his sights.

Dan Azeez vs Rocky Fielding

Dan Azeez retained his British Light Heavyweight title and added the Commonwealth strap with an eighth round stoppage victory over 35-year-old Rocky Fielding.

The drama for this one started before the bell, with Fielding coming in a pound overweight and not making a second attempt to meet the 175lb limit. It meant that he had no chance of winning Azeez’s British title, nor the vacant Commonwealth.

Fielding’s two losses came at the hands of Callum Smith and Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez, so this was a nice step up for Azeez who has made a good job of clearing out some of the domestic light heavyweight scene.

An early clash of heads saw Fielding’s eye bloodied, and they continued to rub throughout due to Azeez’s style. The referee would speak to him about it on a couple of occasions.

In the openers, Azeez threw with more intent and outworked his opponent, making his frame small and swarming with punches on the inside, but Fielding kept him honest with some countering combinations in between the flurries.

The British champion put in some good work to Rocky’s body – perhaps buoyed by what he saw in the Canelo fight back in 2018. Azeez has a real ramrod jab, and he made sure his opponent knew it.

Motivated by Buddy McGirt in the corner, Azeez was running away with the rounds at the halfway stage. Despite some good work from Fielding in the sixth, Azeez finished the round with two big left hooks.

Fielding dropped to a knee at the end of the seventh from a left hand to the body. He made the count, but trainer, Jamie Moore, told him in the corner that he had one round to do something to convince him that the towel wouldn’t be needed.

Azeez came out looking for the finish in the eighth, but Nigel Travis – Fielding’s other trainer – beat him to it with the towel. It was the right decision. Azeez was not to be denied tonight, and Fielding was fading round by round.

Caroline Dubois vs Sofia Rodriguez

Elsewhere on the card, Caroline Dubois blasted out Sofia Rodriguez in a swarming and powerful performance that her brother would be proud of. Despite only five fights into her professional campaign, the 21-year-old is ready to step up in competition.

Cori Gibbs vs Jimmy First

41-year-old Jimmy First took his fight against Cori Gibbs on a week’s notice and won 76-73 after Gibbs’ gum shield fell out a bizarre amount of times, costing him three points at the referee’s discretion.

Steve Robinson vs Nick Campbell

Newcastle’s Steve Robinson stopped Glasgow’s Nick Campbell in the fourth round of their heavyweight clash – the referee waving it off after two knockdowns and a flurry of big shots.