Summary

  • Britons Leigh Wood and Chris Billam-Smith emerge world champions in chaotic night of boxing

  • Wood reclaims WBA featherweight world title with points win over Mauricio Lara in Manchester

  • Nottingham's Wood produces disciplined and classy performance to gain revenge over Lara

  • Scorecards read 118-109, 116-111 and 118-109 for Wood

  • Billam-Smith dethrones Lawrence Okolie of his WBO cruiserweight title in Bournemouth

  • Billam-Smith wins via majority decision after knocking Okolie down three times

  • Scorecards read 112-112, 116-107 and 115-108 for Billam-Smith

  • Get involved #bbcboxing

  1. Postpublished at 22:44 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith - round three

    Marcus McDonnell needs to have another word with Okolie about holding early in round three and it is something the title holder needs to be careful of.

    It is a scrappy round but Okolie is still landing the better shots as a right hand and an uppercut do get through.

    Not many clean shots have got through so far but Okolie has been the more aggressive fighter.

    Lawrence Okolie punches Chris Billam-SmithImage source, Getty Images
  2. Postpublished at 22:40 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith - round two

    Okolie is straight onto the front foot as he unloads with a one-two. Marcus McDonnell needs to get in to separate the two a couple of times and there are signs Billam-Smith is getting frustrated.

    Okolie lands a decent shot into the body but Billam-Smith connects with a left hook before his corner are screaming at the referee about grappling as Okolie gets in close before the bell goes for the end of round two.

  3. Lopez stops Conlan to retain world title - read the reportpublished at 22:39 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Andy Gray
    BBC Sport NI at the SSE Arena in Belfast

    Michael ConlanImage source, Getty Images

    Michael Conlan missed out on a first world title after a fifth-round defeat by Luis Alberto Lopez in a high-intensity IBF featherweight encounter in Belfast.

    Mexico's Lopez knocked Conlan to the canvas midway through the fifth round and the Belfast fighter's corner threw in the towel.

    Conlan, 31, received treatment in the ring and was given a round of applause by the stunned home crowd as he returned to his feet.

    Lopez, after celebrating with his corner, checked on his opponent and the pair shared a respectful embrace in the ring before the result was declared.

  4. Postpublished at 22:36 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith - round one

    That's good from Okolie as he lands a big right hand on Billam-Smith, who counters with a decent left hook of his own.

  5. Postpublished at 22:34 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith - round one

    Okolie is aggressive straight from the off, looking to get in with that strong right hand and has Billam-Smith up against the ropes.

    Billam-Smith is alert to the danger of that right hand, however, and is using the ring well to keep it out of reach.

    Lawrence Okolie punches Chris Billam-Smith in the bodyImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 22:32 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith - round one

    The two boxers touch gloves before the first round gets under way.

    Here we go!

  7. Postpublished at 22:29 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    British soprano Emily Haig is in the ring now to lead a rendition of the national anthem.

    Now time for one last whip up of the crowd, the introduction of the fighters before the action gets under way.

  8. Tale of the tapepublished at 22:26 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    .Image source, Getty Images
  9. Postpublished at 22:26 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    Lawrence Okolie is unshaken by the hostile reaction as he walks out to the ring. He looks cool, calm and focused on the task at hand.

    Lawrence Okolie looks calm during his ringwalkImage source, Reuters
  10. Conlan loses in fifth roundpublished at 22:25 British Summer Time 27 May 2023
    Breaking

    Michael Conlan has lost against Luis Alberto Lopez, being stopped in the fifth round of their contest IBF featherweight world title in Belfast.

    Conlan was knocked down by a right uppercut, but the towel came in from his corner and the fight was over.

    Michael Conlan is punches by Luis Alberto LopezImage source, Getty Images
  11. Postpublished at 22:24 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth

    The jeers have started. The word 'hostile' does not do it justice. Lawrence Okolie is an experienced fighter, but surely he must be feeling some pressure as the away fighter? Or perhaps he thrives off it.

  12. Postpublished at 22:23 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    A very football feel to the atmosphere as chants of "Who are ya?" belt out from the stands.

  13. Postpublished at 22:22 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    Chris Billam-Smith is rightly making the most of this and lapping up the adulation from the crowd as he steps into the ring.

    Now it is time for Lawrence Okolie, whose introduction is initially met by boos from the local crowd backing their local fighter.

    Chris Billam-Smith makes his ring walkImage source, Getty Images
  14. Postpublished at 22:19 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth

    A quite fitting choice of ring walk music from Chris Billam-Smith. The crowd trouble from earlier seems to have calmed down. All eyes are now on the hometown fighter. Can he cause an upset? There will be 15,000 jubilant fans if he does.

  15. Postpublished at 22:18 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    Here we go then!

    Time for the main event in Bournemouth and local favourite Chris Billam-Smith is introduced to the lively crowd.

    Adele's "Hometown Glory" belts out as Billam-Smith emerges for his ringwalk.

  16. 'The crowd are amazing'published at 22:16 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    Sky Sports

    Former WBA super-middleweight champions George Groves speaking on Sky Sports: "The crowd are amazing, it has been buzzing since the show began. I haven't been this excited about a fight for a long time."

  17. Postpublished at 22:15 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    Cracking atmosphere at the Vitality Stadium now as the crowd joins in with a bit of A cappella Wonderwall.

  18. Lopez v Conlan under waypublished at 22:13 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Michael Conlan's bid to take the IBF featherweight belt from Luis Alberto Lopez in Belfast is under way.

    Follow round-by-round coverage here.

  19. Harper calls out Jonas after retaining world titlepublished at 22:11 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Terri Harper punches her opponentImage source, PA Media

    A little earlier, Doncaster's Terri Harper retained her WBA light-middleweight title in a close fight with Ivana Habazin in Manchester.

    Harper struggled to find her top form against the Croatian challenger but all three judges scored the fight in her favour.

    After her win, Harper reiterated she wants to fight WBO, WBC and IBF champion Natasha Jonas, 38, next in an all-British undisputed fight.

    "Let's put on the fight that everyone wants to see," she said.

  20. Carnage in Bournemouthpublished at 22:10 British Summer Time 27 May 2023

    Okolie v Billam-Smith

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth

    It's carnage in the crowd. There have already been several brawls in the stands. I have now just seen a fan in the floored seating area behind my ringside seat lift up a chair and throw it in anger after Southampton's Joe Pigford got stopped by Sam Eggington in their super-welterweight contest.

    Security have their hands full.

    Sam Eggington stops his opponentImage source, PA Media