12×3 mins – WBO World Cruiserweight Championship

CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH  – 14st 3lbs / 199lbs

MATEUSZ MASTERNAK – 14st 2 lbs / 198lbs

8×3 mins – Light Heavyweight Contest

BEN WHITTAKER – 12st 6lbs / 174lbs

STIVEN LEONETTI DREDHAJ – 12st 8lbs / 176lbs

8×2 mins – Welterweight Contest

LAUREN PRICE – 10st 6 lbs / 146lbs

SILVA BORTOT – 10st 2lbs 5oz / 142lbs

10×3 mins – Vacant English Super Welterweight Championship

LEE CUTLER – 10st 13lbs / 153lbs

KINGSLEY EGBUNIKE – 10st 12lbs / 152lbs

10×3 mins – Vacant WBC Silver International Welterweight Championship

MICHAEL MCKINSON – 10st 6lbs / 146lbs

MUSAH LAWSON – 10st 3 lbs / 143lbs

6×2 mins – Bantamweight Contest

FRANCESCA HENNESSY – 8st 8lbs / 120lbs

LUCRECIA BELEN ARRIETA – 8st 7lbs / 119lbs

6×3 mins – Light Heavyweight Contest

LEWIS EDMONDSON – 12st 12lbs / 180lbs

DMYTRO FEDAS – 12st 13lbs / 181lbs

RETURN OF THE KING: Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak takes place on Sunday, December 10 at the Bournemouth International Centre and will be broadcast live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group and Who Dares Gyms.

BOURNEMOUTH, UK (December 8, 2023) – Chris Billam-Smith and Mateusz Masternak exchanged words at the final pre-fight press conference today ahead of their WBO World Cruiserweight Title clash at the Bournemouth International Centre on Sunday, December 10, live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

A sold-out crowd awaits local hero Billam-Smith, who having realised his dream by winning the WBO World Title with a victory over Lawrence Okolie at the Vitality Stadium in May returns to Bournemouth for his first defence against the Polish powerhouse Masternak.

Masternak, who has shared the ring with many of the top names in the cruiserweight division throughout his impressive 52-fight career and who holds more knockout wins than Billam-Smith has had fights, will be aiming to spoil the champion’s homecoming party and fulfil his own world title ambition.

A stacked undercard features 2020 Olympic Medallists Ben Whittaker, who takes on Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj, and Lauren Price, who faces former European Champion Silvia Bortot, with both fighters looking to continue their rapid rise towards title contention.

Lee Cutler contests the vacant English Super Welterweight Title against Kingsley ‘Obi’ Egbunike in a potentially show stealing scrap, Michael McKinson and Musah Lawson battle for the WBC International Silver Welterweight belt, Lewis Edmondson returns against Dmytro Fedas and Francesca Hennessy faces Lucrecia Bellen Arrieta in her second pro bout.

PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES:

CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH:

“The dream was always to win the World Title at the Bournemouth Stadium and I got the opportunity to do that. Before that, we fought for years to get shows down here – and now we’ve had four back-to-back. We’ve got a great time with BOXXER and Sky Sports, we did our part to make it happen, and of course the fans who have turned out to create the amazing atmospheres that everyone loves. I can’t wait to walk out on Sunday as defending champion.

“People don’t have the time of their life, and then give up on life. That’s not how it works. For me, I’m a proud champion. Now I want to cement that legacy and on Sunday night, walking out in front of that crowd gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

“As long as Masternak’s career has been, as many big fights as he’s had – I don’t think he would have ever experienced an atmosphere like this.”

MATEUSZ MASTERNAK:

“My journey in boxing has been going on for a long time. I believe the preparation for this fight has been magical. I believe on December 10th, the WBO belt will be mine.

“I had a deal with my wife. If I wanted a third baby, I had to become World Champion. Now my daughter is 5, so I have to keep my promise.”

BEN WHITTAKER:

“This year’s been a bit of a nuisance, a bit stop and start, but Sunday I’m back at it and in 2024 we’re going to really get the ball rolling again.

“There’s many things I can show on Sunday. I’ve showboated, I’ve done this, I’ve done that. I could just come in, break him down, and get out of there – who knows, we’ll see on Sunday.

“We’ve sparred. I asked for 8, and he left after 6.

“Sunday will be called The Italian Job.  Hopefully he’s not fearful because that’ll make for a better fight. I want him to come and bring the fight and try and bring something out of me that no-one else has. After I beat him on Sunday, we look on to 2024.”

LAUREN PRICE:

“This is a step up again. I’m a completely different fighter to Mayer and I think I’ll prove that on Sunday. I know Sylvia. She’s game, she’s tough, but I believe I’m a level above and I plan to have another solid performance on Sunday, then push on for a big 2024.

“In my last performance, I boxed a girl with an 18-1 record with 10 knock outs. In each fight I’ve stepped up and importantly this year I’ve stayed active. This is my 6th pro fight, and my 4th fight this year. When I’m active and I’ve been in the gym is when I’m at my best. I want to keep this momentum and put on a great performance on Sunday to show what I’m about. I want the winner of Mayer and Jonas in 2024.”

BEN SHALOM, BOXXER Founder and CEO:

“What a journey. To be defending the World Title back in Bournemouth is pretty incredible. We looked at this as simply a great fight.

“Sometimes watching Chris Billam-Smith as a promoter, you think ‘be a bit smarter, be a bit cleverer, don’t take the shots’, but he knows only one way. He gives us entertainment every single time. After the last performance, we wanted a great fight.

“Masternak has done the same throughout his career. He’s never fought for a World Title before which is remarkable to think about. To only have two losses on his record in 57 is special.

“I’m expecting a great fight. I know Masternak has been preparing for this for a long time. His team are ready for this. They believe this is their moment, but Chris wants to show that he’s world level and he’s here to stay at world level, to stay as world champion. This is the moment where he proves his dominance of the division.”

RETURN OF THE KING: Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak takes place on Sunday, December 10 at the Bournemouth International Centre and will be broadcast live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group and Who Dares Gyms.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND (November 23, 2023) – The stage is set for another unmissable night of boxing in Bournemouth as local hero Chris Billam-Smith makes a triumphant return to defend his WBO World Cruiserweight Title against Mateusz Masternak on Sunday, December 10^th live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Billam-Smith captured the WBO crown in May with a fairytale victory over countryman Lawrence Okolie in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Vitality Stadium, home of his beloved A.F.C. Bournemouth.

‘The Gentleman’ will make the first defence of his title at the Bournemouth International Centre against Polish powerhouse Masternak, who returns to the UK for the first time since his 2015 European championship war with Tony Bellew.

And fans have even more to look forward to with the full undercard revealed for the sold-out, south coast show.

As previously confirmed, 2020 Olympic Gold Medallist Lauren Price will face former European Champion Silvia Bortot. Having made history earlier this year by becoming the first female to win a British title, Price (5-0, 1 KO) will be aiming to end 2023 with a statement win against Italy’s Bortot (11-3-1, 3 KOs), who previously went the distance with former unified world champion Mikael Mayer.

Fellow 2020 Olympic Medallist Ben Whittaker has an opponent set for his hugely-anticipated return to the ring. Future boxing superstar Whittaker (4-0, 3 KOs), who has been wowing crowds around the country with his flamboyant and unorthodox style, returns to the scene of his spectacular pro debut to take on Stiven Leonetti Dredhaj (11-2-1, 3 KOs).

Having impressed on previous visits to Bournemouth, Michael McKinson (25-1, 4 KOs) will make the short trip from Portsmouth to take his place on the undercard. The 29-year-old southpaw stopped Lebin Morales last time out at Vitality Stadium and will be hoping a similar victory can set him up for a title run in 2024.

Following his victory over Stanley Stannard in an official eliminator bout during BOXXER’s visit to Bournemouth in May, Lee Cutler (13-1, 7 KOs) will face Obi Egbunike (8-2-1, 1 KO) for the vacant English Super Welterweight Title in a potential show-stealing 50-50 clash.

Southampton light heavyweight Lewis Edmondson (7-0, 3 KOs) joins the bill as he looks to extend his unbeaten record against Dmytro Fedas (8-4-2, 5 KOs). ‘The Saint’ claimed his seventh pro win with a technical decision victory over Petar Nosic on the undercard of Billam-Smith’s world championship winning fight in May.

And fresh from her impressive debut, 18-year-old bantamweight Francesca Hennessy (1-0, 1 KO), the daughter of renowned boxing manager and promoter Mick Hennessy, can continue the perfect start to her professional career when she gets back under the bright lights in Bournemouth.

BOXXER CEO and Founder Ben Shalom said: “The Bournemouth International Centre is going to be rocking on December 10th as we end the year with another spectacular sold-out show on the south coast. We have Olympic medallists, local stars, and some of British boxing’s hottest young talents in action. This show is a real Christmas cracker and one you do not want to miss!”

RETURN OF THE KING: Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak takes place on Sunday, December 10^th at the Bournemouth International Centre and will be broadcast live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA. Tickets for the year-ending, south coast show are already sold out.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group and Who Dares Gyms.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND (November 21, 2023) – 2020 Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price MBE will face Silvia Bortot on the undercard of Chris Billam-Smith’s WBO World Cruiserweight Title defence against Mateusz Masternak on Sunday, December 10th live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA.

Price (5-0, 1 KO) is on a fast-track to World Title success following a glittering amateur career. Having made history earlier this year by becoming the first female to win a British title, ‘The Lucky One’, will be aiming to end 2023 with a statement win against Bortot (11-3-1, 3 KOs).

The Italian is a former EBU European Super Lightweight Champion who went the distance with former Unified World Champion Mikaela Mayer in Manchester in September, the same night Price secured her fifth pro-victory against Lolita Muzeya.

Price knows a victory can put her in the mix for big fights at welterweight including a showdown with the winner of the upcoming IBF World Title contest between BOXXER stablemate Natasha Jonas and Mikaela Mayer.

“I’m looking forward to December 10th and continuing my progression by finishing the year with a good win to take me into 2024,” said Price. “Bortot is a good opponent, she’s game and tough like them all but I believe I’m the bigger, stronger and better boxer. She boxed Mayer in her last fight and gave her a good ten rounds so she will be a good step up. There are some great female fights coming up and I believe next year I will be involved in the big fights.”

“Lauren is an exceptional talent and one of the future stars of this sport,” said BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom. “She is already closing in on World Titles and in just her sixth fight is taking another step up on December 10th. 2024 can be a massive year for her but first she must overcome a tough test against Silvia Bortot.”

Price joins fellow Olympic medallist Ben Whittaker (4-0, 3 KOs) in action in Bournemouth. Whittaker has got off to a blistering start to his career since turning professional in the wake of his 2020 silver medal glory, wowing crowds around the country with his flamboyant and unorthodox style. The 26-year-old is returning to the south coast, where he made his professional debut, and is looking to end the year on a high with another memorable performance.

Fans can also look forward to a potential show-stealing showdown between Bournemouth’s Lee Cutler (13-1, 7 KOs) and Kingsley Egbunike (8-2-1, 1 KO) for the vacant English Super Welterweight Title.

RETURN OF THE KING: Chris Billam-Smith vs Mateusz Masternak takes place on Sunday, December 10th at the Bournemouth International Centre and will be broadcast live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and Peacock in the USA. Tickets for the year-ending BOXXER show are already sold out.

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Integritas Property Group and Who Dares Gyms.

London, England – (November 1, 2023) – WBO world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith came face to face with today with Polish powerhouse Mateusz Masternak, the man who aims to dethrone him when they meet in the main event of BOXXER: RETURN OF THE KING in Bournemouth on Sunday, December 10th,live on Sky Sports.

Currently ranked No 5 with the WBO, the experienced Masternak (47-5, 31 KO’s) rides a six-fight win streak into the world title shot he has long been pressing for. The December clash will see him return to the UK for the first time since his 2015 European championship battle with Tony Bellew. 

Three of his last six victories have been secured by knockout, including a fourth-round stoppage of Armend Xhoxhaj from Albania, who previously went five rounds with Billam-Smith last year.

Having sold out the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) twice before, Billam-Smith is set for a third sell-out in December as he competes for the first time since May, where he triumphed over Lawrence Okolie in front of a packed Vitality Stadium, home of his beloved Bournemouth AFC.

“We’re so excited to be going back to Bournemouth. Everyone gets behind Chris Billam-Smith, it’s something to behold. He’s possibly the biggest star in the cruiserweight division right now in terms of the crowds he draws and now he’s on the world stage. It’s been an unbelievable journey. Tickets have flown out and we’re looking forward to a great event with a serious test against Mateusz Masternak,” said Ben Shalom, BOXXER CEO.

Chris Billam-Smith on Masternak:

“He does everything very well. He’s the most well rounded fighter I will have faced to date. He‘s very well rounded and has no obvious weaknesses. I think stylistically we are very similar in a lot of areas and I think it will be a great fight. It will be an entertaining fight, our styles will mesh really well.

“The venue channels sound so well and you have thousands of Bournemouth fans in there singing their hearts out. That kind of atmosphere is actually what first inspired me to go into boxing and I am just so lucky to have the support that I do.”

Mateusz Masternak on Chris Billam-Smith:

“I’ve been waiting for 17 years to get a world title shot. It’s been a long journey with a lot of ups and downs but now I am ready to take a belt. I’ve been very patient but the wait is almost over. Chris has heart but he’s not faced anyone with my experience and my toughness. 

“There’s a large Polish community in the area and even though it’s Chris Billam-Smith’s territory, I will have some support in there as well. It’s going to be a good night.” 

Shane McGuigan, trainer of Chris Billam-Smith

“I think it’s going to be a great fight for as long as it lasts. I can see the two of them hurting each other but I don’t think he’s boxed anyone as quick as Chris in terms of the short range combinations Chris does.” 

“It’s going to be one of those fights that has you on the edge of your seat. Masternak is very well seasoned, he’s got power, he takes a decent shot, he’s well-rounded – we rate him highly. Viewers are in for a treat.”

===

Tickets are almost sold out for BOXXER: RETURN OF THE KING on Sunday December 10th, with the final remaining tickets having gone on general sale at midday today. 

Billam-Smith won the WBO World Cruiserweight Championship in May when he dominated former training partner turned rival Lawrence Okolie over twelve rounds at the Vitality Stadium, bringing to fruition a boyhood dream to fight in the stadium of his beloved Bournemouth AFC.

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – (October 24th, 2023) – An early Christmas cracker will be delivered to the Bournemouth beachfront on Sunday, December 10th as cruiserweight king Chris ‘The Gentleman’ Billam-Smith (18-1, 12 KO’s) makes the first defence of his WBO World Cruiserweight Championship.

Polish powerhouse Mateusz Masternak (47-5, 31 KO’s) – a former European  and IBF and WBA Intercontinental Cruiserweight Champion currently ranked #5 in the world by the WBO and #9 by the WBC – challenges Billam-Smith in a championship bout which headlines the BOXXER card taking place at the Bournemouth International Centre and airs live and exclusively on Sky Sports.

Returning to the UK for the first time since his 2015 European championship war with Tony Bellew, Masternak rides a six-fight win streak into the bout. Three of those wins have come by KO, one of them a fourth-round stoppage of Albania’s Armend Xhoxhaj, who went five rounds with Billam-Smith last year. 

Having sold out the BIC on two previous occasions, December will mark Billam-Smith’s third time headlining Bournemouth’s largest indoor arena and his first contest since May, when he beat Lawrence Okolie in front of a capacity crowd at the Vitality Stadium.

And ahead of his maiden world title defence, Billam-Smith has committed his future to BOXXER by signing a new extended deal with the next-gen promoter, which includes a commitment to rematch Lawrence Okolie if he remains champion.

That event was the biggest boxing event in South Coast history and Billam-Smith’s return to action in December will be a triumphant year-end homecoming. Grateful for the years of loyal support, the champion requested the Sunday slot in order to allow travelling Bournemouth AFC fans to return from Saturday’s away game.

“Mateusz Masternak is a superb fighter, he’s proved that throughout his career. He’s got double the amount of fights that I have – he’s actually got more KO wins than I have fights – and his only losses are at the very top level. His style matches well with mine and I think it’s going to be a very exciting fight, I’m really looking forward to it,” said Billam-Smith.

Masternak said, “I think Chris Billam-Smith is a very good boxer. He showed his warrior soul in his last fight and proved that he deserves to be champion. I have a lot of respect for him in that way, but I believe more in my skills and my experience. I’ve been dreaming of the world championship since I started boxing. My boxing journey has been like a movie, all the highs and lows. I hope in December we get the best scene. I’m looking forward to fighting in England again, the fans create a great atmosphere there.“

BOXXER founder and CEO Ben Shalom said, “Chris Billam-Smith wanted his first defence of the WBO World Cruiserweight Championship to be a big crowd-pleaser of a fight in his home town. Mateusz Masternak ticks all the boxes; he’s ranked number five in the world, he’s got a ton of experience and he rarely takes a backwards step. He’s a very dangerous opponent and Billam-Smith is taking a serious risk here. 

“Anyone who has ever experienced a BOXXER event at the Bournemouth International Centre will know just how crazy the atmosphere gets in there and I think this one will take that to a new level, the crowd are going to raise the roof. We’re ending the year with a guaranteed Christmas cracker and I can’t wait.”

TICKETING INFORMATION:

Pre-Sale opens Monday October 30th 

General Sale opens Wednesday November 1st 

This event is presented in association with official partners bet365, Everlast, WOW HYDRATE.