CHRIS BILLAM-SMITH dedicated his hometown world title win to brave mum Carol who was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time just six weeks before his triumph.
The 32-year-old took 15,000 fans to his boyhood Bournemouth stadium to dethrone former gym-mate and WBO cruiserweight champ Lawrence Okolie on Saturday.
Chris Billam-Smith dethroned Lawrence Okolie after his massive triumph
The Gentleman missed son Frank’s first birthday party on Friday so he could make the weight after a nasty stomach bug.
And – after securing a majority decision thanks to three knockdowns and Okolie being deducted two points – he revealed a far sadder family tragedy had inspired him.
Choking back tears he explained: “My mum is an amazing woman, my best mate, my rock.
“We found out six weeks ago that she has a small lump.
“She had breast cancer before, 25 years ago, and had a mastectomy and it looks like she’ll have another one now.
“She has also had a stroke, she has beaten all of these things so it’s probably where I get my toughness from.”
Okolie insisted after the defeat – that could have come inside the distance through disqualification – that he will activate an instant rematch clause and even return to the Cherries’ ground.
The 2016 Olympian will need to drastically improve his hit-and-hold style that has bored fans before but never resulted in a pro defeat until Saturday.
But CBS warned him that he will face a far better version of himself in the rerun, after his fight week was wasted between his bedroom and bathroom and sapped him of his strength.
“It was gruelling and physical,” he said about the all-English clash. “I was ill all week so I didn’t rehydrate as well or as much as usual.
“I was never pulling out. I wasn’t letting 15,000 people down.
“I had sickness and diarrhoea on Tuesday morning, had a bug, fasted and it carried on until Thursday.
Billam-Smith dedicated his title win to his mum, who was diagnosed with breast cancer
“I made weight easy but it wasn’t nice, I was really low on energy.
“The doctor had a go at me because I had to lie to him a little bit. But it was worth it.
“The camp had gone so well so I knew it was too good to be true. Loads of Dioralyte in the week got me through.”
The newly crowned ace has already jetted out on holiday to celebrate and recover from the clash that left him with a nasty cut on his left eye.
And the teetotal champ has plenty of grub and some Premier League football on the menu.
At 1am on Sunday morning he said: “I’m going on holiday in eight hours, my nutritionist is getting married abroad, hopefully he’ll let me eat what I want over there.
“Coming back here to watch football will be crazy. Hopefully I’ll be on the pitch for the first game of the season.
“The football club and the town have been brilliant with me, getting me on the pitch and helping grow my following.
“The town has been starved of boxing and now they have got me here, from selling out the arena twice and now here at the stadium with a world title.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take you to learn how to box?
Boxing is one the oldest forms of martial arts. China is where the first known boxing match took place in 2200 BC. Boxing has existed for thousands upon thousands of generations. Boxing is still a popular sport among celebrities and athletes. However, it takes around 10 to learn how to box.
Because boxing involves so many movements, it is slow to learn. Each movement requires specific muscles to perform properly. It takes time to train these muscles.
After you learn how to move your own body, you can practice any type of boxing. Over time, each technique will become more difficult.
How do boxers train for beginners?
Although boxing is one of oldest sports, its popularity has increased only recently. Boxing is an art that sees two fighters compete in a fight. They punch each other until one of them falls.
To become a boxer, you must first find out what boxing is like. You can watch some boxing matches on YouTube to feel how it feels hitting someone. Once you decide whether you would enjoy being a boxer, you’ll need to choose which style of fighting you’d prefer.
What are the 7 punches to boxing?
The seven punches in boxing are jab, cross, hook, uppercut, straight right, left hook, and body shot. These punches are used for attacking the opponent’s body, head, and legs.
What are the advantages of learning to box
These are the reasons you need to learn how box.
- It builds confidence. Learning to box will give you the courage to face bullies or other people who might try to bully you.
- It is good for your health. Boxing builds muscle mass. Muscle mass makes you stronger.
- It teaches you self-defense skills. You learn how fight and how to protect yourself.
- It increases your mental toughness. Mental toughness is important when you’re facing challenges.
- It gives you a sense of accomplishment. When you master a particular technique, it will make you feel like a true fighter.
- It’s fun! It’s fun!
- It’s cheap. It only takes a pair if boxing gloves, and a punchingbag.
- It doesn’t take up too much space
How much weight can I lift during a workout?
You must lift weights if your goal is to increase strength. When lifting weights, there are some guidelines that you should follow. Do not push yourself too hard. Second, try to lift heavier weights every other day. Third, repeat each exercise eight times. Fourth, between sets, take 2 minutes to rest. Fifth, perform all exercises without using momentum. Finally, be focused on form, not speed.
Where can I buy boxing gear?
Many online stores sell boxing equipment. These include Amazon, eBay and Walmart. If you’re looking for cheap boxing gear, then you might want to check out discount stores like Ross or TJ Maxx.
If you’re looking for quality boxing gear, then you may want to consider buying from reputable brands like Warrior, Golden Glove, and Premier Boxing Champions.
Statistics
- You want to be running at roughly 75-80% of your top speed..5 mile slow, easy recovery jog at the end.[6]X Research source 2Mix in long runs, shadow boxing, and short sprints on non-interval days. (wikihow.com)
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
External Links
expertboxing.com
en.wikipedia.org
How To
Here are the Essential Skills of Boxing
How to box effectively
Boxing is the most loved sport in the world. Two opponents fight each other to the death. Different countries have different rules. There are three types: Amateur, Professional, or Olympic boxing.
Amateur boxing usually takes place at school, college and university. This type of boxing includes sparring sessions with padded gloves and without any protection. Amateur boxing competitions usually last three rounds and last five minutes each. There are many styles to amateur boxing like Kickboxing. Muay Thai. Taekwondo. Karate. Judo. Wrestling.
Boxing is often practiced in gyms or clubs. They wear protective equipment such as mouthpiece, nose guard, shin guards, elbow pads, knee pads, waist belt and groin protector. Professional boxing contests last six rounds and last for four minutes each. There are several different styles of professional boxing including Boxing, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo and others.
Olympic boxing is performed at the Olympics. International standards dictate that boxers must wear protective gear. The competition lasts approximately three minutes for each round. Only two types of Olympic boxing are available: Light Flyweight or Heavyweight.
These are the basic skills required to box.
- Punching techniques
- Techniques for protecting yourself
- Footwork
- Stance
- Move your body
- Defense
- Combination
- Rotation
- Spares
Punching Techniques
There are seven types. Each punch is different. Some punches require more strength than others. A strong uppercut for example requires a lot of force. A straight punch on the other side requires less power, but is more effective than other punches.
There are also different combinations. These are combinations that combine punches to accomplish a particular goal. A combination may contain several parts. A left hook followed with a right-cross will cause injury to the opponent’s jaw.
Guard Techniques
Boxers use their bodies to defend themselves against attack. He does so by using his arms, elbows and hands as well as his knees, knees and legs.
Legs
To defend against kicks, a boxer should use his legs. When he’s hit, he raises his right leg and runs away from the attacker. If the attacker is coming from the front, he will bend at the knees to avoid getting kicked on either side. If the attack is from the side, he will bend his knees to avoid being kicked on the side.
Elbows
Because elbow strikes inflict a lot of pain, they are very effective. You can either deliver an elbow strike directly, or indirectly. Directly refers to hitting your opponent with the forearm, while indirect means you hit him using another part of your arms.
Hands
Boxers use both their hands and arms to prevent incoming blows. Boxers raise their fists to block incoming blows and then move in the direction of the attacker’s attack. Then they make contact with the attacker’s fist.
Knees
When receiving a blow to the stomach, abdomen or chest, a boxer should bend his knees to absorb the impact. Defense purposes are often served by knee strikes.
Feet
If he is being attacked, a boxer must take a step back and counter-attack. He can then gain distance from his opponent. Boxers should also keep their balance when counter-attacking.
Stances
In order to box effectively, a boxer needs to establish a stance. The way he defends him will be dictated by his stance. It dictates how he places his body and faces his opponent. There are many stances available to boxers. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Low stance
- High stance
- Southpaw stance
- Western stance
The Body Movement
In order to win a fight, a boxer must move around his opponent. This involves changing positions, speed, rhythm and timing.
Rotation
To increase his punching power, a boxer rotates when he throws a punch. Depending on what punch is being thrown, the speed of rotation varies.
Combinations
The timing of each punch will determine the effectiveness and efficiency of a combination. A combination that is effective starts with a strong punch, and ends with one that is weak.
Spare parts
Sparring is a practice session designed to improve boxing skills . Sparring allows a boxer to improve his mental and physical skills. In conclusion, the purpose of sparring is to learn how to fight and not get hurt.
In conclusion, learning to box requires dedication and patience. To become a better fighter, you have to train hard and continue to work.
