Chris Billam-Smith Details Post-Defeat Injuries and Emotional Impact

Chris Billam-Smith, a former world champion in cruiserweight boxing, stated that his “pride and body are extremely sore” following his loss to Gilberto Ramirez in a match aimed at unifying the WBA and WBO titles. Mexican boxer Ramirez largely controlled the bout, which took place in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Despite this, Billam-Smith commendably continued to fight, remaining upright for all 12 rounds. The Bournemouth-based fighter subsequently posted on Instagram, describing his opponent as a “fantastic fighter and great man in and outside of the ring”. The ex-WBO champion also mentioned his intention to spend time “letting my body recover”. Billam-Smith, aged 34, sustained several injuries early in the contest, including a broken right thumb, a fractured left hand, and a deep laceration above his eye. The match concluded with a decisive defeat on points. After the fight in Riyadh, he was immediately transported to a hospital, where he remained for approximately eight hours. In his social media update after the bout, Billam-Smith, who is known as The Gentleman, stated: “It was an honour to share the ring with him [Ramirez] in a unification fight.” He continued: “I gave it everything I had on the night, both my pride and my body are extremely sore today.” He expressed being “hugely disappointed” that he “couldn’t get the job done” and extended gratitude to his followers for their backing. He further commented: “We’ve had quite the journey together these last couple of years. I am now looking forward spending quality time with my family and letting my body recover.” Ramirez’s win on Saturday was comfortably reflected in the judges’ scores, with ringside officials marking it 116-112, 116-112, and 116-113. In a distinct Instagram post, Shane McGuigan, Billam-Smith’s trainer, asserted that his fighter “could not have given more to the fight”. McGuigan added: “[He is] a clear ‘winner in life and [I] cannot reflect back on his career at any stage saying he could have tried harder.” This bout marked Billam-Smith’s inaugural fight outside the United Kingdom, where he served as the main event for “Latino Night” in Saudi Arabia. His previous fights included four consecutive appearances in his hometown of Bournemouth, along with two headline events in other Premier League stadiums. For updates, BBC Oxfordshire can be followed on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.