Chris Billam-Smith stops Robin Dupre to land mandatory Commonwealth title shot
Bournemouth’s promising cruiserweight prospect Chris Billam-Smith (7-0) captured a seventh consecutive victory as his opponent Robin Dupre (13-2), hailing from Dagenham, retired at the end of the fifth round.
The scheduled 10-round cruiserweight contest took place at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on October 13 on the undercard of Bakole vs Hunter, live on Channel 5.
The 28-year-old went one better than fellow cruiserweight Luke Watkins who took a round longer to stop Dupre, as the Shane McGuigan trained fighter now holds the mandatory spot for the coveted Commonwealth title, currently vacant – Wadi Camacho and unbeaten Arfan Iqbal both meet on November 17 to contest the available title.
Post-fight, the former Poole ABC student said he will be watching Camacho-Iqbal live at York Hall and hoped to be back out again in December.
In the headlining fight, 2012 US Olympian Michael Hunter (15-1) gate-crashed the thriving heavyweight scene with a thrilling tenth-round stoppage over heavyweight prospect Martin Bakole (11-1).
The only other title fight saw bantamweight prospect 'Lightning' Lee McGregor (5-0), 21 from Edinburgh, clinch the vacant Commonwealth title in just his fifth pro outing against Cameroon-born Thomas Essomba (8-5), 30 from Ryhope, by way of a 12th round knockout.
Three JE Promotions fighters all scored wins – Grant Dennis (12-1) with a 48-second KO, and Lenny Fuller (3-0) and Martin Hillman (11-6) in points wins.
Northampton’s Chantelle Cameron (8-0) retained the IBO World lightweight crown with a convincing points victory over Mexican former world title challenger Jessica Gonzalez (7-5-2). The IBO champion almost became the first person to inflict a stoppage on her opponent, with an uppercut flooring Gonzalez in the seventh segment. The 27-year-old edges closer to future unification fights, including the potential clash with Irish sensation Katie Taylor.
Fleet’s Aaron Collins (4-0) extended his unbeaten record as he comprehensively outpointed Dylan Draper (0-20). The 26-year-old welterweight pushed Draper back for the duration of the contest, who himself appeared not particularly keen to engage.
Southampton’s Jack Hillier (3-0) claimed a third-round stoppage win over Polish southpaw Kamil Jaworek (5-11) as he amounted his third successive victory in the paid ranks.
Controversial welterweight Louis Adolphe (9-1), fighting out of Tooting, easily outpointed tough journeyman William Warburton (26-143-10), as the 26-year-old picked up a second win since the shock first-round disqualification he suffered last October.