Chris Billam-Smith Praised for ‘Daring to Be Great’ Following Ramirez Loss

Boxing promoter Ben Shalom characterized Chris Billam-Smith’s tenure as WBO cruiserweight champion as a “special” journey. Billam-Smith is now the former holder of this title. On Saturday, Chris Billam-Smith, known as “The Gentleman,” suffered a defeat against Gilberto Ramirez, who outpointed him and left him significantly bloodied. The Mexican fighter subsequently unified the WBA and WBO titles. Despite Billam-Smith enduring heavy blows and a severe cut, remaining on his feet for the entire 12-round contest, Shalom commended the resilience of his former world champion. Following the bout, Ben Shalom informed BBC Sport, “Chris dared to be great in there.” He continued, “I couldn’t be prouder of him, he is such a warrior and every time he fights I feel proud to be associated with him and inspired by him. Chris will be gutted and we are all gutted but when I look back on the journey that he has taken us on it has been very special.” Immediately after the fight, Billam-Smith was transported to a hospital for examination of a cut and a suspected broken rib. He also disclosed that his vision became blurry at a particular stage in the contest, prompting those near him to insist on prompt medical care. 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. Chris Billam-Smith was defeated by Mexican Gilberto Ramirez on Saturday night. Since partnering with promoter Shalom, Billam-Smith’s career trajectory has been marked by success, including four consecutive fights in his hometown of Bournemouth and two headline appearances in Premier League stadiums. Notably, one of these was at the Vitality Stadium, home to AFC Bournemouth, where he secured his WBO title. Shalom further stated, “When I first met Chris he couldn’t even dream of a world title. I’ve seen him change his life and come through so many milestones and the best thing about it is that he has not changed at all, he’s still the same guy I first met three years ago. That’s the measure of the man, I can’t speak highly enough of him and he should be an inspiration for every professional boxer that with hard work and consistency you can get to the very top.” The victor of Saturday night’s contest was set to gain the chance to further unify the cruiserweight division and challenge other champions in pursuit of all available titles. With Ramirez emerging triumphant, Billam-Smith’s subsequent professional boxing career path is now uncertain. At 34 years old, holding a record of 20 wins and two defeats, some might deem it an appropriate moment to retire; however, the Briton declined to outline any specific future plans post-fight, beyond enjoying the forthcoming festive season and promptly resuming training.