23:30 – That’s it from us at Old Sreet News, a fantastic fight worthy of the build-up. Both men can leave with their heads held high. We’ll see you at the next event of Riyadh Season, the Fury vs Usyk rematch on 21st December.
23:29 – Compubox showing 45% vs 36% accuracy in favour of Ramirez, with 121 vs 54 power punches landed.
23:27 – CBS now speaking with Chris Maddix: “His consistency was there… 3,4,5 moves”. On the cut “It was going a bit blurry and closing up … but no excuses.”
23:24 – Ramirez speaking with DAZN’s Chris Maddix “I want to unify all the championships”. He thanks the crowd and all his supporters in Mexico.
23:21 – A deserving winner, with skill overcoming brawn and heart. Thoughts will now turn to Ramirez’s next opponent, a potential fight for the undisputed title against Ring Magazine and lineal champion Jai Opetaia.
23:20 – 116-112, 116-112, 116-113, all three scorecards to the new unified WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion of the world… Gilberto Ramirez
23:20 – We await the judges scorecards for this unified decision
23:17 – Ramirez’s corner celebrate, they know their man has won. Billam-Smith’s corner more subdued, they know they were second best here, but no-one can dispute the heart and determination of Chris Billam-Smith.
23:16 – Round Twelve – CBS winces and groans when Ramirez clashes heads on the inside. He is fighting purely on heart now. Every shot CBS throws, Ramirez takes it and delivers one back with interest. Both landing huge shots as the seconds count down. Both staying upright. Two warriors spent, but Ramirez has surely come out on top here.
23:12 – Round Eleven – Stronger round from CBS, landing shots with some menace behind them, but Ramirez takes them well. He needs a knockout and is trying for one, throwing caution to the wind. Tight, but possibly a CBS round.
23:08 – Round Ten – The corner of CBS shout “turn the f-in screw”, and to his credit he keeps coming forward, and finding energy from somewhere. He lands some body shots on Ramirez, who always fires back with greater accuracy and lands the cleaner shots. Neither fighter’s shots seems to be troubling each other now, both feeling the pace. Even round.
23:04 – Round Nine – That left hook from Ramirez has been landing all night, and will be giving CBS nightmares for weeks. CBS remains upright, somehow. Ramirez landing at will to the body of CBS. Any other fighter you suspect the corner would throw the towel in. Ramirez round.
23:00 – This is all going Ramirez’s way, who must be ahead on all three scorecards. CBS will need a knockdown at least, and probably a knockout. Stranger things have happened.
23:00 – Round Eight – CBS must know he is down on the scorecards, and the cut could end the fight early. CBS moving better, circling with Ramirez, but nothing much on his shots. Good series of blows from Ramirez land mid-round. CBS looks exhausted. But he is no quitter. Ramirez round.
22:56 – Round Seven – Cut ruled OK to continue for now. Ramirez keeps the pressure on this round, landing with combinations and light on his feet. CBS looks sluggish, he needs to lay it on Ramirez as I don’t think they’ll let this go on much longer, that cut leaking blood into the eye of CBS. Ramirez tagging CBS with hooks, not much coming back. Ramirez round.
22:52 – Eddie Howe in the crowd, shakes his head perhaps in response to CBS’s performance. That cut looks bad, lots of work being done to fix it.
22:52 – Round Six – Combo of shots from Ramirez landing on CBS, a hook wobbles the kegs of CBS who tries to laught it off but he is clearly hurt. The left hook upstairs really affecting CBS. It feels like the end might be near for CBS. Blood pours from the cut. Another Ramirez round.
22:48 – Round Five – Some awful looking swelling and a cut ot the righr eye of CBS. Ruled a headbutt by the sanctioning body commissioner, which may alter the final decision if the cut ends the fight. CBS may be sensing this and has upped the tempo a bit this round. But is met with firepower from Ramirez, Both trading shots to the body. Ramirez ends with a left hook just after the bell. Ramirez round.
22:44 – Round Four – Ramirez is the slciker of the two, CBS looks stiff in this round, the workrate of Ramirez bay be having its toll. CBS takes a clean right hook, peach of a shot. Somehow he remains upright, but again you suspect this might not last. Ramirez round, and probably ahead on the scorecards.
22:40 – Round Three Straight left finds the target bouncing CBS onto the ropes. Both men mauling each other on the inside with 40 seconds to go in this round. This is going to be a war you suspect. . Strong finsih from Ramirez who troubles CBS with another check left hook. CBS needs to be careful, you wonder how many more he can eat. Ramirez’s round.
22:36 – Billam-Smith’s coach Shane Mcguigan urging his man to jab and walk down Ramirez.
22:36 – Rund Two Stong body shot from CBS early on in the round, marching Ramirez into the ropes. Ramirex responds mid-round with scoring combinations – again CBS takes them well. Sharp right hook from CBS troubles Ramirez ate on, but he fires back with a flurry of shots to the body of CBS against the ropes. Even round.
22:32 – Round one – Fireworks in the opening round, both men landing heavy shots after trying to control the middle of the ring. Billam-Smiths shots look to have had more effect than the ones coming back, but he has taken some on the chin, albeit well. Tough to score, but Billam-Smith probably nicks it
22:28 – Ramirez boasts the stronger record, with almost double the fights of Billam-Smith. Will this experience see him through here?
22:26 – Billam-Smith looks razor sharp shadow boxing during the announcements. Ramirez stands idle, flashing his gumshield.
22:23 – Anthems done, fighters announced. Champion vs champion. Chants of Billam-Smith in the audience easily heard in the otherwise silent arena.
22:18 – Another understated ringwalk by Ramirez this time. This arena is very small, with many seats empty in the stands. Not befitting the status of this fight.
22:17 – No sooner is he announced than Chris Billam-Smith appears in the ring. Fastest ring walk ever?
22:15 – This is being billed as size vs skill, with reports Billam-Smith might have rehydrated to 220lbs, a trick Ramirez used to deploy at light heavy. Will Ramirez cope with being the smaller fighter here?
22:12 – Ramirez is headlining “Latino Night”, a co-promotion with Oscar De La Hoya’s Goldenboy. The first event of it’s kind, we’ve had a stacked undercard with fighters of Latinx heritage. Suitably, the Mariachi band are in full swing as we await the fighters.
22.08 – Welcome to our live blog of tonight’s cruiserweight unification fight between Epsom’s Chris Billam-Smith, and Mazatlan Mexico’s Gilberto Ramirez. We are half a world away from last night’s action in the US, with what promises to be more than a half-decent encounter tonight here in Saudi.