Chris Billam-Smith had to dig deep and pull off a stunning comeback to stop Mateusz Masternak in his first world title defence.
The WBO cruiserweight champion, 33, was dragged into a bruising battle with the Polish veteran and he was heading for defeat on the scorecards with two judges having the challenger up at the time of the stoppage.
But Billam-Smith, 33, cracked Masternak’s ribs to force the challenger into retirement before the start of the eighth round as the pressure finally told. The Bournemouth favourite was struggling to deal with the wily veteran in the first half of his maiden title defence.
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But then he found an extra gear in the seventh and right and left hooks to the body eventually put a dent in Masternak. The Polish fighter, in his 53rd outing but first world title fight, took an age to rise from his stool for the eighth round before his corner asked referee John Latham to wave it off.
Billam-Smith climbed the ropes to celebrate the 19th win in his 20th outing in front of his home fans. The Gentleman said: “I respected him so much in the build-up. I said it would be my hardest fight but I made it too hard for myself.
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“I knew I had hurt him in the seventh because he slowed down. My trainer [Shane McGuigan] saw he had trouble with his ribs before the fight, he said he saw a lump on his ribs before the fight. He knows what he’s talking about.
“It’s a shame he pulled out because I would have showed my maturity adapting my performance. I’m now hoping to face Richard Riakporhe next.”
This was the first defence of Billam-Smith’s WBO title after he took the belt from fellow Brit Lawrence Okolie in May. That night was outdoors at his beloved Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium but here he was back indoors at the International Centre in the seaside town.
Billam-Smith started as the aggressor as he plodded forward landing with one-twos but Masternak had success with his jab and to the body in a steady-paced opening round.
Neither man’s defence was up to much in these early exchanges as they traded shots in lively second and third rounds. Masternak got through with a couple of big rights in the fourth after a cut opened up over Billam-Smith’s left eye.
There was suddenly real concern it was going to be a short-lived reign for Billam-Smith. Masternak continued to grow in confidence in the fifth as he landed flush with simple and straight combinations.
The good news for Billam-Smith was his corner managed to stem the blood flow from the cut over his left eye. But he was still eating right hands as the fight went into the second half. Then The Gentleman finally responded in the seventh as the Polish veteran began to tire and the body shots finished off Masternak.
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