The centre of the world is wherever you make it. For Chris Billam-Smith that’s Bournemouth, known more for its beaches than it’s boxing. Yet on Saturday night the seaside town turned out for their man, and he turned up for them.

The Commonwealth and European titles were both on the line on the south coast, and what followed was more than worthy of such.

It was clear from the get-go that in Isaac Chamberlain there was a cultured boxing brain opposite Billam-Smith. He popped out the jab early which bought the hometown man forward in an attempt to close the gap and impose his size.

Billam-Smith started round two nice and sharp, before being caught and wobbled in what turned out to be a thrilling three minutes. The pendulum swung back and as the round closed in, it looked as if Chamberlain was in desperate need of hearing the bell.

Both men were visibly hurt.

The middle rounds were largely fought on Billam-Smith’s conditions, keeping Chamberlain close whilst occasionally landing with thudding shots. However he did seem fatigued, and despite the consensus of him being ahead going into six, Chamberlain arguably looked better placed for the back stretch of the fight.

Seven and eight were tight rounds but were rounds that optimised the fight as a whole. Both men landed eye-catching stuff, with Billam-Smith’s primarily coming in the closing minute of the rounds.

As the end drew nearer, the home crowd roared forward their man and he responded. For the first time in the night, there were very comfortable periods for Billam-Smith, and a swollen Chamberlain began to look like a beaten man as he slumped in his corner.

Chamberlain was clearly the one needing a stoppage, which his corner made very apparent, yet the one-way traffic looked as if it would bring one for Billam-Smith.

Then came the carnage of the 12th…

Billam-Smith was landing freely and well on his way to victory, when Chamberlain landed a flurry of shots which given another 15 seconds, may well have seen the Commonwealth and European titles change hands.

However they didn’t, as Billam-Smith stayed strong and swept the cards 117-11 across the board.

Both men soaked up the fantastic reception at the end and deserve heaps of credit for what turned out to be an absolute scorcher on the coast.

For Chris Billam-Smith, the Bournemouth dream turned out to be not only another statement win, but also a perfect advert for why his hometown should see televised boxing again. Now, his team have the hard work of plugging such a concept to the division’s champions.

We can’t leave this without brushing over our Tokyo talent, and most notably Ben Whittaker. 12 months on from his Olympic silver, we finally got a glimpse of one of world boxing’s brightest stars, and he didn’t disappoint.

Kitted out in the Kronk colours, Whittaker strolled to the ring for an exhibition of class and showmanship. He worked effectively the body and head before nailing his opponent with some sharp uppercuts.

The second round was barely 15 seconds old when an overhand right whistled into the side of opponent Greg O’Neil’s head, and that was the end. It was short and sweet from Whittaker, but it gave us just enough time to see the blend of power and speed that many believe will take him right to the very top.

Frazer Clarke dispatched of Ariel Bracamonte in two, and Caroline Dubois showed that power runs in the Dubois DNA as she earnt her second professional stoppage. Both have turned over with a level of expectation beyond the norm, so to see them level it up, and with success, was superb.