Chris Billam-Smith downs Lawrence Okolie, Leigh Wood beats Mauricio Lara, Luis Alberto Lopez stops Michael Conlan

Chris Billam-Smith is the new WBO cruiserweight champion after defeating Lawrence Okolie in Bournemouth on Saturday night, while Leigh Wood defeated Mauricio Lara in Manchester.

Billam-Smith was fighting with home support at the Vitality Stadium, in front of 15,000 supporters, and the former friends produced a thrilling match-up.

Rivalry had become animosity as competition grew intense between two contenders who one shared a gym.

Billam-Smith faced a fierce barrage in the opening rounds, but after absorbing some powerful blows aimed to his body, and a right to the head, he did seem to be wobbling a little.

However the challenger grew into the fight and sent Okolie to the canvas three times, and while there was a surprise scorecard from one judge ruling it a draw, two others were heavily in favour of Billam-Smith, who took the win by split decision.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the fight, Okolie immediately welcomed a rematch, saying: “I love being the winner and the champion, I have to take my hat off to him, he did very good work. We’re going to run it back.

“I trained really hard because I know what Chris is made of. Today is his night, I might be down but I’m definitely not out.

“This was Chris at his very best.

“I can adapt to a loss, I’ll be back again.”

Billam-Smith celebrated: “I have no idea what’s just happened. My whole life has gone so quick and come to this moment, it’s just perfect. There’s nothing more..

“Against a great champion and a close friend in Lawrence, who has never looked close to getting beaten, he’s given me a very, very hard 12 rounds. I believe I did enough to win it, I believe the scorecards show that.”

Further north, Wood is once again the WBA featherweight champion after outpointing veteran Mexican Lara 118-109, 116-111 and 118-109.

Wood was stopped by the 34-year-old back in February but a rematch was swiftly arranged, and there were signs that Lara was not quite at his best before the fight got underway.

It had become clear by midweek that he would not be able to make the weight as he came in at over 129lbs, meaning he was stripped of the belt and only Wood was in contention.

Nevertheless, the risk for the Englishman was that the heavier man would carry too much of an advantage for him to succeed, but there was no need for concern as he put on an accomplished performance.

“I should’ve done that first time around,” Wood told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He’s tricky – if you switch off he will put your lights out. I was so focused, so driven, I was never going to fail no matter what.”

And in Belfast, Michael Conlan failed in his tilt to become featherweight champion for the IBF as he fell to title holder Luis Alberto Lopez, as his team threw in the towel in the fifth round.

Josh Warrington, Lara and Conlan could all be considered options for Wood as he contemplates his first defence of his reclaimed belt.