Chris Billam-Smith retained his European and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles with a gruelling points victory over Isaac Chamberlain in Bournemouth.<\/span><\/p>\n Billam-Smith, 31, took the unanimous decision in the all-English fight, with each judge scoring the fight 117-111.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n After the fight he thanked his wife Mia and newborn son Frank for inspiring him. <\/span><\/p>\n “What an incredible night,” Billam Smith. “I’ve got learning to do but I will learn.”<\/span><\/p>\n Billam-Smith could now get an IBF cruiserweight world title shot against the recently crowned champion Jai Opetaia, whose manager was ringside.<\/span><\/p>\n The headline fight at the Bournemouth International Centre was the first big bout for Billam-Smith in his home town.<\/span><\/p>\n He dominated in the early stages but Brixton’s Chamberlain came back into a bout that saw momentum swing between both fighters.<\/span><\/p>\n Chamberlain was bleeding heavily from a cut above his left eye late on.<\/span><\/p>\n “It wasn’t my night,” he said. “This was my first ever 12-rounder. I’ll be back.”<\/span><\/p>\n On the undercard, light-heavyweight Ben Whittaker – who won silver at the Tokyo Olympics – made an impressive start to his professional career with a second-round knockout win over Greg O’Neill. <\/span><\/p>\n
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