CHRIS Billam-Smith was beaten by Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez as the Mexican becomes the unified WBA-WBO cruiserweight champion.

It was a brutal twelve rounds of boxing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with Billam-Smith looking like he was struggling mid-way through the fight.

But the Gentleman worked his way back into it and seemed to get a second wind – but it was not enough as Ramirez had built up a lead and was able to respond.

In the end, it was a unanimous decision from the judges in favour of Zurdo, 116-112, 116-112 and 116-113.

The fight began with Billam-Smith on the front foot, looking threatening in the opening couple of rounds with his left hook.

Zurdo responded strongly, though, in an even start to the fight. 

The Mexican found his rhythm in the third, and connected with some accurate punches including a big left hand at the end of the round.

He built his momentum into the fourth, connecting with a couple of right handers, as a nasty cut opened above Billam-Smith’s left eye following a right hook.

A big left hand landed from Zurdo on the bell in the fifth, as Billam-Smith looked to be shaky on his feet with the Mexican in control of the fight. 

Before the seventh, the cut was looked at briefly by the doctor but the bout continued, with the momentum remaining with Zurdo.

Billam-Smith stayed resolute, staying on his feet, as Ramirez looked to finish it.

But the Bournemouth boxer found a second wind in the final few rounds and responded strongly, landing some big punches himself, although Zurdo matched him and seemed to respond with his own punches with every one CBS landed.

The final round was explosive as both fighters looked to finish it with a stoppage – Billam-Smith knowing that that was likely needed to tip the fight his way.

But neither could find it and it went to the judges, with the fight going to Ramirez by unanimous decision - the Mexican the deserved winner on the night in a masterclass of powerful, accurate boxing.

Great respect was shown by both fighters at the end, as the pair embraced as Billam-Smith handed over his belt.

Speaking after the fight, Billam-Smith told DAZN what gave the fight to Zurdo: “I guess there's a bit of irony, my initials are obviously CBS and I say consistency build success.

“And I think the consistency of Zurdo tonight was what won it for him.

“So all respect to him.”

He added: “It's been a real honour to fight on Latino night and, Zurdo came out with the win and I have a huge amount of respect for him, always have done.”

On the threat of Zurdo, Billam-Smith said: “He's really good because he's got consistent shots, throws threes, fours, fives and then moves.

“I think that was where I was lacking tonight with tracking him or letting him get his shots off.”

Billam-Smith suffered a nasty cut to above his left eye after four rounds, which he said disrupted him a little.

“It’s part of the sport,” he said. “At times it was going blurry and closing a bit. And then in between rounds, cutsman was doing a great job.

“So there's a few rounds there where I couldn't really see out that eye. But no excuses, it was his work, he got it done.”

On what’s next, the Bournemouth fighter said: “A rest, enjoy Christmas. But yeah, we'll have to go back and assess and keep improving.”