Billam-Smith vs Xhoxhaj: Chris Billam-Smith showed the most interest in Armend Xhoxhaj during their open workout on Thursday at the Bournemouth International Centre.
Before Xhoxhaj put on gloves and started firing bullets at his trainer’s pads, he sat in the front row and watched his opponent shadowbox in the centre of the ring.
The Kosovan spent some time on the pads, gradually adding more potent blows, but he was offering little hints as to what he will bring to the bout on Saturday.
When they square off in two days, the Nuremberg-based Xhoxhaj will look to thwart Billam-carefully Smith’s set plans for a 2023 world title opportunity.
Though Billam-Smith has studied film of the Kosovan, Thursday’s session was the first time he got to meet Xhoxhaj, who is somewhat of a mystery.
Billam-Smith said Sky Sports, “It’s good to have a small peek, you might detect anything in their pad work or their workout, some little piece.”
It’s entertaining to watch, but you shouldn’t take anything you see during a public pad workout as gospel because everyone is trying to appear good, or keep their secrets, or anything similar.
Even though Billam-Smith will be the star of the Bournemouth fight night, he is also looking forward to all the activities this week leading up to it.
He waved to the fans who had come to see him and subsequently threw hats and T-shirts to them as he painstakingly warmed up for this brief training session. Billam-Smith is not willing to take any chances.
“I enjoy it, I enjoy working out, and I enjoy the weigh-ins. I’ve always liked it, but it’s much better when it happens in my hometown with all the noise people make,” he remarked.
First off, it’s a requirement of the job, so why not have fun while doing it?
If you had told me ten years ago that I would be performing a public workout on Sky, let alone headlining it, I would have bitten your hand off. It’s thrilling.
When they engaged in a face-off, Xhoxhaj indeed appear to be a man on a mission as he gazed wide-eyed at Billam-Smith.
He’s threatening to knock you out. “I was anticipating coming to England and boxing here for a long time since it’s a place where boxing is at home,” Xhoxhaj remarked.
“I’m just a guest here, so I won’t let the judges decide.”
Billam-Smith is aware that he can’t afford to unwind. This fight poses a risk to him.
For boxing tournament, boxing championship, Billam-Smith vs Xhoxhaj, boxing live score, boxing court, boxing match today, latest boxing news, boxing championship update, boxing live news and other boxing news follow livematchupdatesnews.com.
