Chris Billam-Smith vs Roman Fress goes to purse bids as WBO Interim Title Clash Moves Forward

The WBO interim cruiserweight title fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Roman Fress will head to purse bids, WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed today after both camps failed to reach a promotional agreement.

The bout was ordered due to current WBO world champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez being sidelined following shoulder surgery in July, shortly after his title defence against Yuniel Dorticos, where he retained both his WBO and WBA belts. With Ramirez out of action, the WBO moved to create an interim champion, pitting its two highest-ranked contenders—Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KOs) and Fress (23-1, 13 KOs)—against each other.

Billam-Smith is promoted by Boxxer, while Fress fights under Ulf Steinforth’s SES Boxing. The winner of the interim title will be in prime position to challenge for the full WBO championship once Ramirez is fit to return.

Both fighters have spent the majority of their careers fighting at home. Billam-Smith, from Bournemouth, has only fought abroad once—when he dropped a decision to Ramirez in Riyadh 10 months ago. He bounced back with a solid win over Brandon Glanton on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn in April.

Fress, 35, also has limited experience outside Germany and is yet to fight in a scheduled 12-round bout. His most recent outing saw him defeat fellow German Michael Seitz over 10 rounds in May.

Boxxer’s New Era with the BBC

The news comes as Boxxer prepares for its first show on the BBC, marking a new chapter after the conclusion of its broadcast partnership with Sky Sports. Promoter Ben Shalom hailed the deal as a major milestone: “Partnering with the BBC to deliver big-time British boxing on Saturday night TV is a historic moment,” Shalom said in a recent press release. “This huge platform will give our fighters the exposure they deserve and help us take the sport to new audiences.”

In another boost for Boxxer, super-lightweight star Adam Azim signed a new long-term deal with the promotion earlier this month. The highly rated prospect expressed confidence in his trajectory: “I know I have the right team around me to take me to the top,” said Azim. “I want to fight for world titles and test myself against the best fighters out there. I’m ready to show the world what I’m truly capable of.”

With Billam-Smith vs Fress heading to purse bids and Boxxer expanding its broadcast reach, the final stretch of 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal period for the promotion.