Despite being the challenger for Okolie’s WBO cruiserweight belt, it was Billam-Smith who had the fight in his hometown in front of 15,000 fans at the Vitality Stadium and he gave the Bournemouth crowd the result they wanted.
Okolie, previously unbeaten, was dropped three times and had two points deducted for holding, as Billam-Smith secured a majority decision after two judges scored it 116-107 and 115-108 in his favour and a third bizarrely had it 112-112.
It was the perfect night for the home fighter, but it had been a less than perfect build-up to the bout against his former gym-mate.
“I was sick in bed all week,” Billam-Smith told Sky Sports.
“I didn’t eat from Tuesday to Thursday. It was easy making weight! I had no energy, I managed to put a brave face on for the workout on Wednesday and the presser on Thursday.”
Okolie confirmed after the fighter that he intends to activate the rematch clause, looking to win his world title back immediately and get avenge the sole defeat on his professional record.
Even if Billam-Smith wins that and goes on to achieve further success in the cruiserweight division, it is unlikely to rival this victory in front of a raucous Bournemouth crowd.
“I’ll never top this I don’t think,” Billam-Smith said.
“There’s a lot of things I didn’t think I’d top, but this is crazy. I probably sound concussed because I have no words, but I’m not. I have no words to sum this up.
“This is the greatest night of my career, it probably always will be. I just won a world title, at Dean Court, in front of my hometown. That is the greatest thing I will ever say.”
