Surprise in Budapest: Not a single bid was received for the WBO interim title fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Roman Fress.
A surprising turn of events in the cruiserweight division: The purse bid for the rights to host the interim world championship fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Roman Fress, scheduled by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) for Thursday, came to nothing. As WBO President Gustavo Olivieri Miranda announced, the auction scheduled for 12 noon in Budapest ended “without bids”. “The purse bid was declared inconclusive,” said Miranda. “As no bidders participated, the Championship Committee will meet again to decide how to proceed.”
It therefore remains to be seen if and when the duel between the Briton and the Magdeburg native will actually take place. The WBO can now issue a new invitation to tender with a lower minimum bid – previously 300,000 US dollars. Alternatively, another solution would have to be found within the weight class.
The basis for the originally scheduled interim world championship was the injury to reigning WBO world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez, who is currently out of action. For Roman Fress, who was on the brink of the biggest opportunity of his career, this means another wait. Just like for Billam-Smith, who had put himself back within world championship reach after his last victory.
Text by Robin Josten