BOURNEMOUTH cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith extended his perfect professional record before revealing his title ambitions for 2018.

The 27-year-old defeated Hungarian puncher Laszlo Ivanyi at Leicester Arena on Saturday thanks to a savage left to the body in the first round.

With four stoppages in as many fights since turning professional in September, ‘The Gentleman’ is working his way steadily up the boxing ladder.

And Cherries fan Billam-Smith is eyeing a title shot next year provided he can continue to impress under Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions banner.

Billam-Smith told the Daily Echo: “I want to get some six and eight-rounders under my belt. So far, my fights have only been scheduled for four but before you box for any titles, you have to have one six-round fight.

“The aim is to have a belt of some sort by Christmas next year. Whether that’s an English or Commonwealth title, it depends.

“I will have other fights before then and am taking things step by step. I have to keep winning and performing well and then, hopefully, I can get a title shot.”

Little more than two minutes had passed before Billam-Smith dealt the telling body blow which ended Ivanyi’s challenge in front of the 5Spike cameras.

The former Stourfield Junior pupil added: “I felt a bit flat in my last fight against Jan Hrazdira but this was a better performance.

“Ivanyi had never been stopped or knocked down before the fifth round, so we were expecting four rounds out of him.

“I took the wind out of him with the body shot. When he went down I was mouthing ‘get up’ to him because I knew I needed the rounds.

“But at this stage of my career, the learning is done in the gym and I’m getting in plenty of good work there so that’s the main thing.

“If you had told me a year ago that I would be boxing on TV and have a 4-0 record with four stoppages, I would not have believed you.

“I’m really happy with my progress so far.”

Billam-Smith expects to return to the ring in February and has designs a second pro fight in his home town – possibly next year.

The ex-Poole ABC man saw off Russ Henshaw at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy in September.