WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith 18-1 (12) has no plans of surrendering his belt when he makes the maiden defence of his title against Polish veteran Mateusz ‘Master’ Masternak 47-5 (31) at Bournemouth International Centre at Bournemouth, England on December 10.
In fact, the 33-year-old from England plans on holding onto the belt all the way to retirement.
“The motivation has changed because the goal isn’t to win the world title – it’s about cementing a legacy,” Billam-Smith told BBC South Today.
“You get that extra 20% when you become champion. I’d never heard of it until I won the title but it definitely feels like that.
“There is belief in all the work you have put in and you trust the process no-end after winning a title. The motivation now is to stay champion until I retire.”
Billam-Smith knows that the experienced Masternak represents a real threat. The 36-year-old has mixed it with some of the best 200-pound men on his era across his 17-year pro career, including future and former world champions including Tony Bellew, Grigory Drozd, Jean-Marc Mormeck and Yuniel Dorticos with mixed results.
“He’s one hard bloke. I am pretty sure he’s never been dropped once in his career,” Billam-Smith said.
“He was stopped once but that was 10 years ago. He’s a good all-rounder, has a good shot selection, good punch power, he’s really durable, has good feet – he’s the most well-rounded boxer I have faced by far.
“I know the dangers he possesses and know I have got to be on it. He’s been through every experience bar a world title fight, somehow. This is his first, I know what that feeling is like.
“It’s a huge challenge for me. Mentally he’s going to be on it, he’s had over 50 fights and this is his first world title fight – realistically if he gets beat, it’ll probably be his last. My plan, unfortunately for him, is to make sure it is his last.
“I’m feeling superb, it’s been a really good camp. I’m prepared to go hell-for-leather for 12 rounds if needs be – if he can take it then he can take it.”
The fight will be the first for Billam-Smith since he wrenched the belt from the waist of his former gym-mate Lawrence Okolie 19-1 (14) by unanimous decision in an ugly fight back in May.
In that bout Okolie was down three times and deducted one point for holding in both the fifth and seventh rounds, while Billam-Smith suffered a cut over his left eye.
“I am so excited to box back at the BIC,” Billam-Smith said. “The stadium is an outdoor venue and you lose some of the sound sometimes, especially in the middle of the ring, but at the BIC everyone is on top of you and it will sound like 20,000 people.”
