LAWRENCE OKOLIE and Chris Billam-Smith will put friendship aside when the WBO cruiserweight title goes on the line.
The former sparring partners clash at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium on Saturday night.
Okolie, 30, defends his title but does so behind enemy lines against Cherries fan and hometown hero Billam-Smith, 32.
The pair were once training partners under esteemed British trainer Shane McGuigan.
But after Okolie left the camp, it opened the door for the friends to turn foes in the ring.
The 2016 Olympian laboured to a points win over David Light in his March return bout but wanted a quick turnaround.
So when Billam-Smith was searching for an opponent to welcome to his beloved Bournemouth stadium, Okolie was raring to go.
The champion comes into the bout with an unbeaten 19-0 record and has 14 knockouts to go with it.
Whereas Billam-Smith has been beaten once before in his 18, to Richard Riakporhe, 33, by split-decision in 2019.
Okolie at 6ft 5in carries a two inch height advantage and is one of the hardest punchers not only at cruiserweight but in the world.
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And most notably, he has a 82+1⁄2 inch reach compared to Billam-Smith’s 75 inch range.
The fight makes for a good clash of styles, with Okolie preferring to box at range, using his length to let off his big right hand.
Whereas Billam-Smith finds a lot of success at mid and close range, tucking in his elbows with a tight guard and letting combinations fly.
If the challenger is to have success in the bout, he needs to close the distance and overwhelm Okolie with flurries.
For the champion, he will look to keep the fight long, use his jab to set up the right hand and spoil on the inside when needed.
But after 300 rounds of sparring between them, it remains to be seen whether the two will open up having known each other so well.
Chris Billam-Smith and Lawrence Okolie are former sparring partners
Lawrence Okolie, promoter Ben Shalom and Chris Billam-Smith
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a beginner get started in boxing?
Boxing is one among the oldest sports known to mankind. Boxing was created in ancient times to help warriors fight off their enemies. Boxing is still a popular sport all over the globe. You don’t even need to go to a gym to box. To box, all you need are a pair gloves and punching bags.
Amateur boxing clubs in your area can be joined and trained by professional coaches. After mastering basic punches, combinations, and other skills, you can compete in tournaments.
How long does it take for you to learn boxing
Boxing takes 3 months to learn. This includes learning the basics like footwork, balance, and stance. Boxing isn’t just about throwing punches. You need to learn how you can block and dodge attacks.
What can I do to improve my fighting defense?
By learning to fight smart, you can improve the defense of your combative skills. It is important to know how to defend yourself against all types of attacks, as well as how to counterattack when necessary.
If you don’t fight well, you will not be able to handle any situation. You’ll just get beaten up. You’ll just get beat up if you know how fight.
Here are some ways to improve your defense.
- Be aware of where your opponent is attacking. This means you need to be attentive to your opponent’s body language. If he appears nervous, it could indicate that he is about to launch his next attack.
- Stay calm. Don’t panic. Instead, be calm and focussed.
- Block with your arms. It is simple and effective to defend yourself from attacks by blocking your arms.
- Counterattack. You should immediately counterattack your opponent if they are attacking you.
- Fight dirty. Fighting dirty is another method to defend yourself. You can kick your opponent back if he throws a kick at it.
Where can I find boxing equipment?
There are many websites that sell boxing equipment. Some of these include Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Target, and Sports Authority. Ross and TJ Maxx, which sell cheap boxing gear are good options.
Warrior, Golden Glove, or Premier Boxing Champions are all good options if quality is your goal.
What is the best way to practice boxing with no partner?
You can also watch professional boxing matches live on TV if you don’t have a partner and want to learn boxing. You could also look for an amateur boxing club in your area. Amateur boxing clubs hold regular training sessions. These sessions usually involve sparring partners who hit pads together.
Punching bags are another option for practicing boxing. Before you use the bag, be sure to protect yourself with gloves or boxing gloves.
How do you train boxers for beginners?
Boxing is one, if not the oldest, sport in existence. But boxing only recently became more popular. Boxing is a sport where two fighters face off against each other in a ring. They punch each other until one of them falls.
It is important to decide if you like boxing before you can start training to become a fighter. You can watch some boxing matches on YouTube to feel how it feels hitting someone. Once you have decided that boxing is for you, you can decide what style of fight you prefer.
How do you practice boxing punches.
A punching bag is used for practicing boxing punches. Once you feel comfortable with the technique, you can punch the bag. Next, move on to the next section of your body. Once you feel comfortable with one area, you’ll move on to the next.
Statistics
- This article received 39 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. (wikihow.com)
- 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)
External Links
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en.wikipedia.org
How To
These are the basics of boxing
How to box effectively
Boxing is one the most well-known sports in the world. Two opponents fight each other to the death. The rules of boxing vary from country to country. There are three types generally of boxing: Amateur (Professional) and Olympic (Olympic).
Amateur boxing is usually practiced at school, college or university. This type of boxing includes sparring sessions with padded gloves and without any protection. Amateur boxing contests are usually three rounds in length, lasting five minutes each. There are many types of amateur boxing: Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Taekwondo.
Professional boxing is usually practiced in gyms, clubs or stadiums. They are equipped with protective equipment including a mouthpiece and nose guard, shinguards as well as elbow pads, knee pads. Waist belts and groin protectors. Six rounds of professional boxing last four minutes each. There are many different types of professional Boxing such as Boxing, MMA, Kickboxing, Muay Thai or Taekwondo.
Olympic boxing is practiced at the Olympics. Special protective gear must be worn by boxers to ensure compliance with international standards. The competition lasts for eight rounds, each lasting three minutes. Olympic boxing can be divided into two types: Light Flyweight (Heavyweight) and Heavyweight (Light Flyweight).
The basics of boxing are:
- Punching techniques
- Guarding techniques
- Footwork
- Stance
- Body movement
- Defense
- Combination
- Rotation
- Spare parts
Punching Techniques
There are seven kinds of punches: Left Hook, Right Hook, Uppercut, Cross, Straight, Overhand and Underhand. Each punch has its own technique. Some punches require more strength than others. For example, an uppercut requires great force. On the other hand, a straight punch requires less power but it is faster than other punches.
There are also different combinations. These are combinations of punches that work together to achieve a specific goal. One combination can have many parts. For example, a left hook followed by a right cross will cause damage to the opponent’s jaw.
Guard Techniques
To defend himself from being attacked, a boxer uses his entire body. He does this by using his legs, arms, elbows, hands, knees and feet.
Legs
Boxers must use their legs to defend themselves against kicks. After receiving a kick, he will raise his leg and move 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. But if the attack comes in the back, he will stand straight and block the kick using his foot.
Elbows
Elbow strikes are very effective because they inflict much pain. An elbow strike may be delivered directly or in an indirect manner. Directly means you hit your opponent directly with your forearm. While indirectly, it means you hit him with another section of your arm.
Hands
Boxers use their hands to block incoming blows. Boxers use their hands to stop incoming punches. They raise their fists up above their heads and move towards the attack. They then make contact with their attacker’s fist.
Knees
When receiving a blow to the stomach, abdomen or chest, a boxer should bend his knees to absorb the impact. Knee strikes can be used to defend yourself.
Feet
A boxer should take control of an attack and respond with counter-attacks. This will allow him to gain distance from his opponent. A boxer must also maintain his balance when responding to an opponent’s counter-attack.
Stances
In order to box effectively, a boxer needs to establish a stance. The way he defends himself will be determined by his stance. It defines where he faces his opponent and how he positions his body. Boxers can take many different stances. Here are some of the more popular ones:
- Low stance
- High stance
- Southpaw stance
- Western stance
Body Movement
Boxers must maneuver around their opponent to win fights. This involves changing position, speed and rhythm.
Rotation
Boxers rotate their arms when they throw a punch. Depending on what punch is being thrown, the speed of rotation varies.
Combinations
The timing of each individual punch affects the effectiveness or failure of a combination. A combination that works well starts with strong punches and ends with weak ones is a winning combination.
Spares
Sparring is a training session that improves boxing skills. Sparring allows a boxer to improve his mental and physical skills. Sparring is a way to learn how to fight without getting hurt.
In conclusion, learning to box requires dedication and patience. Boxing is a sport that requires dedication and perseverance.
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