A WORLD championship boxing bout is set to break attendance records at the Vitality Stadium and has been dubbed the “biggest non-football sports event in Bournemouth history”.
AFC Bournemouth’s home ground will host the largest non-football audience in its history on Saturday, May 27, with 15,000 fans set to witness hometown hero Chris Billam-Smith challenge Lawrence Okolie for the WBO cruiserweight title.
The ground usually hosts 11,300 seated fans for Cherries home games, but BCP Council recently approved a premises licence allowing the additional capacity as well as temporary bars on site.
Taking to social media, Billam-Smith said: “Wow. Thank you to everyone who has bought a ticket to come and support myself and the show.
“Thank you to BCP Council, AFC Bournemouth and BOXXER for staging such an immense event for the town. I have never been so excited.”
Bournemouth-based entrepreneur Joe Ashford-Ellis worked with promoters BOXXER to bring the event to the region.
He said: “Bournemouth is my home city and where my children have been born and raised.
"I love the people and I wanted the chance to do something for the community here.
“I’m looking forward to the sold-out atmosphere in the Vitality Stadium on fight night.”
Ben Shalom, BOXXER founder and CEO, added: “Bournemouth has turned out to be a sleeping giant of the British boxing scene. The atmospheres at our [two previous] Bournemouth events have been indescribable and I really cannot wait to see what level things go to when the main event fighters are walking out at the Vitality Stadium on May 27.”
Mr Ashford-Ellis has committed to donating a portion of profits from the event to two local charities, an amateur boxing club and a Bournemouth homelessness organisation.
While the licence for boxing and wrestling events to take place at Dean Court has been approved, it will be limited to just one event per year – reduced from the four events originally requested.
Regarding concerns the event could lead to anti-social behaviour, club legal representative Julia Palmer previously said: “The club, the promoter, and the officers responsible for public safety, prevention of crime and disorder and prevention of public nuisance have been closely involved in the preparation for this match to ensure that the impact of the proposals will not be harmful to those living in the area.”
The bout will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
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