BOURNEMOUTH cruiserweight sensation Chris Billam-Smith spoke of the increase of power in his punches since working with award-winning coach Shane McGuigan.

The 27-year-old recorded the third knockout victory of his professional career in Edinburgh on Saturday.

He floored durable Czech Jan Hrazdira with a sickening body shot in the second round.

Hrazdira had only been stopped once previously before he met Billam-Smith – that knockout came at heavyweight level.

And the former Poole ABC puncher admitted his newly-found power had given him a heap of confidence.

He told the Daily Echo: “Considering as an amateur I had one stoppage in 43 fights, Shane and the guys at the gym have turned me into a bit of a puncher.

“Even in sparring and things I never used to really wobble lads but since I have been with Shane I have hurt people in the gym.

“My confidence has grown massively in my power and it’s a case of believing in it and Shane has got me to do that.

“Shane is a great coach. He knows what he is doing and has been around the game his whole life.

“His knowledge is second to none and it’s a case of having that pad work every day.

“Now I am training 10 times a week in total and five of those are pad work or sparring, it’s just a case of more punching sessions and getting plenty of the right coaching.”

Billam-Smith, who has also seen off Russ Henshaw and Aleksandar Todorovic during his bouts in the pro ranks, admitted the fierce blow to the body of Hrazdira was one he would savour.

“Shane even said to me in the corner ‘this lad is going to be there for four rounds’. I was hitting him with some big shots to the head,” he added.

“I knew he was tough. He had never been stopped by a cruiserweight before and he had been in there with some big punchers.

“I tried weakening the body and I just had to let him open up a little bit, to allow him to let his shots go and leave some openings. Eventually, I found an opening.

“I was really happy with the finishing shot. It’s the second body shot in a row now which has stopped a lad, so it’s happy days.

“Anyone can punch at this weight, they are all big lads. They are all going to be able to punch and you need to have it in your locker.”

The work does not stop for the Dorset cruiserweight however, as he is set to get back in the gym this week in preparation for his next professional outing.

He is set to feature in another event staged by Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone promotions at the Leicester Arena on Saturday, December 2.

Billam-Smith also took the time to dedicate his latest victory to boxing coach John Whittam, who sadly passed away last week.