Latest news with #Glanton
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Glanton's brain damage threat 'disgusting' - Billam-Smith
Former world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith has labelled comments made by opponent Brandon Glanton in the build-up to their recent fight as "vulgar and disgusting." The 34-year-old from Bournemouth defeated his American opponent on Saturday by unanimous decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. At the final press conference before the fight, Glanton said: "I'll give you brain damage, dog". He later apologised for the remark. "That was just vulgar and disgusting," Billam-Smith told BBC Sport."In a sport where people end up with brain injuries and sometimes fatalities happen, it was really hard to listen to."I only heard it after the press conference and that got me really riled up, when he said that it got to me."It didn't feel like me winning in the fight, it was about me not letting someone with that vulgarity win. It was important to let integrity win and thankfully it did."Throughout fight week, Glanton went after Billam-Smith, shouting threats at him at a public workout and then aiming insults at him at a subsequent media conference. His justification for the verbal onslaught was Billam-Smith apparently not shaking his hand when Glanton was part of Lawrence Okolie's team for his fight with BIllam-Smith back in Saturday night 'The Gentleman' won on each of the scorecards by a number of rounds, having landed the more eye-catching shots. After the final bell both fighters shared some emotional words, with Billam-Smith looking to make a point after the controversy of the week. "I just told him that we can't be saying things like that," he said."There was thousands of kids watching the build-up and this is one of the biggest shows in the last few years."I just said we have to show what the sport should be about, if we are to be given a platform of this size then we need to be better role models - back and forth is fine but let's not overstep the line."In a sport where we give everything and we risk our lives, you don't need to be like that, we need to show some decency and humility. He did apologise." It was Billam-Smith's first victory since defeat in Saudi Arabia when he lost to Gilberto Ramirez in a WBO and WBA unification bout. He says he still has ambitions of returning to world from Ramirez the other champions are Australian Jai Opetaia, with the IBF belt, and Swedish boxer Badou Jack, who holds the WBC title. "There's opportunities around. I will have to wait a bit though, I feel," Billam-Smith added. "I think Zurdo Ramirez and Jai Opetaia are in talks to fight each other. If those two fight then the WBC route would be most likely for me, but we'll see."For now it's all about family time, having a bit of a rest from boxing and staying fit and then we'll see where we go."
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
American boxer Brandon Glanton threatens to give British opponent 'brain damage' when the pair meet on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn
American boxer Brandon Glanton has been condemned for vowing to give his opponent Chris Billam-Smith 'brain damage' when the pair meet on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn. In a fiery final press conference ahead of their meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, Glanton branded Billam-Smith a b***h for snubbing a handshake after the Brit's win over Lawrence Okolie in 2023. Billam-Smith was left stunned by the American's brutal words and pledged to do hi stalking at the event. 'I stuck my hand out, he walked straight past me. It's disrespectful,' said Glanton in his extraordinary rant. 'I said in interviews, we're men before we're fighters, right? 'And he's a father before he's a fighter so your son has a b***h as a father. 'I don't care about these cameras, these lights, I'm going to f*** you up. That's why I'm here. It's not a show everyone knows, I'm going to give you brain damage.' His comments were criticised by fans on social media, many of whom claimed there was 'no need for that sort of language'. There was also calls for Glanton to be reprimanded for his comments. Cruiserweight Billam-Smith is looking to return to winning ways this weekend after suffering his second professional loss in November. The Brit beat Okolie for the WBO and made two defences of the title before losing to Gilberto Ramirez.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Appalling' – Fans demand Brandon Glanton reprimanded after sick threat to give Chris Billam-Smith brain damage
BRANDON GLANTON was slammed for shamefully vowing to give opponent Chris Billam-Smith "brain damage". The cruiserweight rivals meet on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 's grudge match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. 3 And American Glanton branded Billam-Smith a "b***h" for not shaking his hand in 2023 after the Brit's victory over Lawrence Okolie. He said: "I stuck my hand out, he walked straight past me. It's disrespectful. "I said in interviews, we're men before we're fighters, right? And he's a father before he's a fighter so your son has a b***h as a father. "I don't care about these cameras, these lights, I'm going to f*** you up. That's why I'm here. It's not a show everyone knows, I'm going to give you brain damage." Glanton's disgusting comments were rightly slammed by fans online as one said: "Brandon Glanton should be reprimanded for his comments on Chris Billam-Smith. "Absolutely no need for that sort of language." Another added: "Brandon Glanton is a clown. Scummy thing to say in an already dangerous sport. "Why's he going in that much on CBS? One of the nicest guys in boxing." One fumed: "In a sport like boxing there needs to consequences for saying you want to give someone brain damage. Appalling." Another said: "Brandon Glanton absolutely sucks." EXCLUSIVE: Chris Eubank Jr's promoter teases stunning Conor Benn rematch at Old Trafford over 30 years after dads' famous fight Classy Billam-Smith - the former WBO champion - hit back: "I'll leave my talking to Saturday." The Bournemouth boxer beat Okolie for the WBO and made two defences of the title until losing it to Gilberto Ramirez in November. Glanton meanwhile is 20-2 with 17 knockouts.
The Independent
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Brandon Glanton threatens to give Chris Billam-Smith ‘brain damage' in shocking insult
Brandon Glanton chose to use Chris Billam-Smith 's son as verbal ammunition and shockingly threatened to give the British bruiser "brain damage" ahead of their bout on the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn undercard. The American boxer did not hold back at the event's final press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, taking to the mic and unleashing a torrent of abuse on the 34-year-old. Billam-Smith, taking a calmer and more conceited approach to the rivalry, didn't know why Glanton was being so hostile. He said: 'I'm sure he'll tell everyone in a minute, he's told everyone else." 'He knows exactly where that energy came from, Chris is a b***h, it's just plain and simple," Glanton responded. 'I didn't plan on getting much into it, but at the media workout in 2023, when [Lawrence] Okolie and Billam fought, he was very disrespectful. 'Obviously everyone knows I was there in support for Okolie. I was sticking my hand out, and [Chris] walked right past me. 'His son has a b***h for a father. I don't care about these lights, these cameras, I'm gonna f*** you up. I'm gonna give you brain damage, dog.' Billam-Smith kept a level head and did not rise to the threats, replying: 'I'll leave all the talking to Saturday." Glanton wasn't finished causing trouble, however, and started getting into it with fellow cruiserweight Clarke. 'We've been walking around all week, buddy, and you ain't said nothing,' Clarke said. 'You better watch your mouth, boy,' the American hit back. 'Who you calling 'boy'?' Clarke then asked. Both got to their feet and threatened to get physical there and then, before Billam-Smith pleaded with Clarke to let him deal with Glanton on Saturday. Billam-Smith will hope to get back to winning ways when under the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium lights this weekend, coming off his second professional loss back in November to Gilberto Ramirez in a WBO and WBA cruiserweight unification bout.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Every fight a 'must win' - Billam-Smith eyes WBC belt
Chris Billam-Smith has said that at this stage in his career "every fight is a must win" as he targets becoming two-time world cruiserweight suffered his second professional loss back in November when he was defeated by Mexican Gilberto Ramirez in a WBO and WBA cruiserweight unification bout. On Saturday, the Bournemouth boxer faces American Brandon Glanton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium."With the stage I'm at, I haven't got ages left in the game," 34-year-old Billam-Smith told BBC Sport."Every fight is a must win now, there is no rebuilding and I can't afford to not win, for me it's about this next fight and then getting what I want out of the sport." After taking a break after defeat, Billam-Smith returned to training at the start of the year and will take on Glanton who has an identical record to his of 20 wins and two two will fight in north London on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn. Billam-Smith is familiar with Glanton's name as the American ended up attending the fight week prior to his bout with Lawrence Okolie in 2023, and was filmed calling out Isaac Chamberlain and himself on Bournemouth Pier. This contest is between the fifth and fourth-ranked fighters in the WBC cruiserweight rankings, with Billam-Smith the higher of the two. With WBC champion Badou Jack defending his title against Noel Mikaelian early next month, 'The Gentleman' is hoping that a victory could propel him to fighting for the green and gold title next."If I can get one of the other belts like the WBC title then maybe we can get the rematch with Zurdo [Ramirez] on, I'd love that," Billam-Smith added."At the moment, Jai Opetaia [IBF champion] and Ramirez are on a collision course so that leaves Badou Jack, we'll see."Glanton is definitely tough but I believe I'll hurt him, we've seen him get hurt in fights before, I think I'll do a number on him if he can stay in there or not we'll find out on the night." In his 20 wins, Glanton has knocked out 17 of his opponents and since two defeats he has gone on to win his last three in convincing fashion. Billam-Smith's fight with Ramirez was an entertaining but taxing one as the Briton took heavy punishment and was left with a bloodied face afterwards. He started well but ended up losing the contest by a number of rounds, the two fighters collapsed into each other's arms afterwards, having given impressive record stands at 47-1 with his only professional defeat being by current undisputed light-heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol."In the ring I thought we showed the best of boxing," Billam-Smith said."We showed that you can be a gentleman outside the ring and give it all in the ring, It was an unbelievable fight."All respect to him, he was the better man on the night and hopefully we can get to do it again."There is plenty of things since the Zurdo fight that I have learned from, we've been putting those things into practice in the gym and I think I'm a better fighter for it."
