Their bout is set for Bournemouth on May 27th

 By Ed Emeanua

World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie is scheduled to fight his former training partner Chris Billam-Smith on May 27th in the defense of his world title, BOXXER have announced.

According to British boxers UK, the bout is billed for the Billam-Smith’s beloved Bournemouth FC’s Dean Court.

Okolie successfully defended his title for the third time third against mandatory challenger David Light in Manchester last week.

The 30-year-old British fighter of Nigerian bloodline comfortably outpointed his opposition and was adjudged winner on all three judge’s scorecards, shifting attention afterwards to arranging a gigantic local summer showdown.

On his part, Billam-Smith posted a breathtaking performance in his  fifth-round blow-out of Armend Xhoxhaj at the Bournemouth International Centre as he sharpened his skills for a first shot at a world title.

It would be recalled that the man from Bournemouth has not hidden his ambition to take on Dean Court and intimated Sky Sports his openness to a clash with Okolie not long ago.

Both fighters recently trained under the guidance of Shane McGuigan before Okolie decided to depart for Sugar Hill Steward’s camp ahead of his clash against Light.

Mikael Lawal is also billed to fight with Isaac Chamberlain in his defense of his British cruiserweight marble on the undercard.