Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium will host the most important non-football viewers in its historical past on Saturday, Might twenty seventh when 15,000 followers will pack the venue to witness hometown hero Chris Billam-Smith (17-1-0, 12 KOs) problem former workforce mate Lawrence Okolie (19-0, 14 KOs) for the cruiserweight championship of the world.
The bottom normally hosts 11,300 seated followers for the Premiership soccer video games of AFC Bournemouth, however BOXXER has acquired licensing permission from Bournemouth authorities to broaden seating provision for Billam-Smith’s title tilt, the most important boxing occasion ever to happen within the south coast area.
And it’s not solely the followers who profit – along with permitting 1000’s extra individuals to expertise this landmark occasion in particular person, the expanded seating allocation may even create further funding for native charities set to obtain a portion of the income from this occasion.
Bournemouth-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Joseph Ashford Ellis – BOXXER’s native accomplice within the area – has been a driving pressure and key participant in bringing BOXXER occasions to Bournemouth, hoping it’ll present inspiration for native children to channel their time and vitality into sport “as an alternative of simply hanging round on the streets”.
A key accomplice within the Might twenty seventh occasion, Joseph has vowed to donate his proportion of income from the occasion to 2 native charities an beginner boxing membership and a charity which works with Bournemouth’s street-homeless inhabitants. (In 2022, decided to carry BOXXER to Bournemouth, he assumed large monetary threat to himself by personally underwriting the price of each ticket for the primary occasion.)
On Might twenty seventh he’ll as soon as once more be ringside because the night’s occasion performs out, paying explicit consideration to the boxers from his administration steady who’re competing on the cardboard, together with Southampton’s Joe Pigford, Bournemouths very personal Lee Cutler and the Portsmouth expertise Mikey McKinson.
“Bournemouth is my house city. It’s the place all my youngsters have been born and raised, I genuinely love the city, I really like the individuals and I needed the prospect to do one thing for the neighborhood right here. I strongly consider in sport as a pathway to a greater life for younger individuals and I hope that this occasion – and the 2 prior BOXXER occasions in Bournemouth – have proven what it’s attainable to realize if you find yourself on the best path,” stated Ashford-Ellis.
“This occasion is a landmark second for Bournemouth however for me it’s concerning the probability to present one thing again. I’m excited to see the sold-out environment within the Vitality Stadium on struggle night time however I’m additionally trying ahead much more to the second after I take my share of the occasion income and hand it over to those very important neighborhood initiatives. That’s going to be a really proud second for me, one other tick off my bucket listing and I’m simply delighted to have the ability to give one thing again.”
Ben Shalom, BOXXER Founder and CEO, “Bournemouth has turned out to be a sleeping big of the British boxing scene. Our go to completely blew us away, the gang was unbelievable and to today it’s an occasion BOXXER employees nonetheless discuss. The atmospheres at each our Bournemouth occasions have been indescribable and I actually can not wait to see what degree issues go to when the principle occasion fighters are strolling out on the Vitality Stadium on Might twenty seventh.
“We’re unbelievably lucky to have Joe Ashford-Ellis as our accomplice in Bournemouth. He was so keen about bringing us right here and he’s moved heaven and earth to make these occasions occur, motivated by his want to do one thing for the younger individuals right here. That motivation offers him limitless vitality and we actually couldn’t have requested for a greater accomplice as we put together to stage the most important non-football sports activities occasion in Bournemouth historical past.”
This occasion shall be introduced in affiliation with official companions Everlast, WOW HYDRATE, Village Motels and Who Dares Gyms.
The cardboard for BOXXER: OKOLIE vs BILLAM-SMITH is as follows:
12 x 3 minutes WBO World Cruiserweight ChampionshipLawrence Okolie vs Chris Billam-Smith
12 x 3 minutes British Cruiserweight ChampionshipMikael Lawal vs Isaac Chamberlain
8/10 x 3 minutes Tremendous-Welterweight ContestSam Eggington vs Joe Pigford
10 x 3 minutes English Tremendous-Welterweight Championship EliminatorLee Cutler vs Stanley Stannard
6/8 x 2 minutes Light-weight ContestKarriss Artingstall vs Jade Taylor
6 x 3 minutes Tremendous-Featherweight ContestMace Ruegg vs Dean Dodge
6 x 3 minutes Gentle-Heavyweight ContestLewis Edmondson vs Vladimir Belujski
6 x 3 minutes Heavyweight ContestTommy Welch vs TBA
6 x 3 minutes Welterweight ContestMichael McKinson vs TBA
