 Hello and welcome or welcome back to the official AFC Bournemouth podcast coming to you not quite live But certainly direct from the vitality stadium to bring you closer to some of the personalities Connected to the cherries for those who haven't tuned in before my name's Chris temple I'm cherries commentator for BBC Radio Solent and AFCB TV and my regular partner in crime on here is a man I've known and worked alongside for almost 20 years AFCB club journalist Neil Perry Neil. Good day Good day Chris. We're in for a treat today Neil on the pod as we link AFC Bournemouth with the boxing ring Now you declared on Twitter just recently that you're 19 and a half stone, which I think he's on the generous side That probably puts you first in line if we're talking boxing for the winner of fury against Joshua 100 million pound a man I think they're on probably take one punch for that fraction of that if Eddie herns listening Chris if you're listening Eddie It's at Neil Perry on the underscore on Twitter for you to look at his photo and realize he definitely isn't 19 and a half stone Out of two on the front of that. You might be closer. Anyway, our guest on this episode is a man who certainly isn't 19 and a half stone He's put Bournemouth though firmly on the map recently in non football circles now It's gonna be extremely cliche, but I'm gonna do this anyway Talking out of the red and black corner the current and defending Commonwealth and continental cruiserweight champion from Bournemouth, England We welcome the gentleman Chris Billham Smith I'm gonna get a job Chris. No, oh David Diamante might have his work out there Goodness that was so bad. I've got to get cut out. I'll have to do it again later. Chris. Welcome to the podcast It's an absolute pleasure for me and Neil to be joined by you today. First of all, you're an elite sports person You've been in training camps in the region is in this current times as a cherries fan I know you're not quite in the stadium But what's it like to be back inside the four walls of the vitality? No, thanks for having me on it's an honor to be back in in the stadium and I had a quick look at the pitch and Yes, I miss it. I miss being being able to play but no, thanks so much for having me on It's an absolute pleasure to say now You're also a podcast host yourself you sit in this seat probably a bit better than we do which will come on to a Little bit later on but let's start back recently Shelby with with where you're at before we come on to the story behind your career and how you ended up in Bournemouth and everything else you beat Vassil Dussar on points on the 20th of March at Wembley Arena As a professional boxer in a recovery, I guess from a from a fight Tell us about your day today. What is a fighter? What are we nine ten days on from a fight now? What are you up to? I think I've done a I've done a few runs. I'm not one to be able to sit still I think that my time off is mainly time off from my diet. I've definitely eaten More than I should be a few pizzas here and there, but now I've been doing a few runs Just mainly for my my mind, you know in the morning down the sea few sea dips as well And few strength sessions here and there, but I I love training and I've you know, it's good for my mentality and I'm not not the finished article yet So I've got us to keep progressing as well So I've just been doing bits and pieces but definitely relaxing as well Trying to get out the house as much as possible why especially why my wife's working at home Don't want to annoy her too much. It's a good excuse anyway for getting out the house Okay We'll come back to the boxing and to the your lover the cherries very shortly But let's as we like to do with all I guess wind it right back because if we look you up It says you were born in Epsom in Surrey So just tell us how you ended up finding your way down here to Bournemouth. Yeah I was a born in Epsom, but we were grew up sort of in Tadworth, which is sort of south London And we lived in a think my parents had a two-bed flat and a block of flats with three three sons So that was probably very hectic for him. I don't have many memories of that We moved down to Bournemouth when I was three years old. So for me, it's it's all I've ever known really It's it's definitely home. I'm very fortunate to live down here. So yeah, they moved down here in 1993. So it was Yes, that's why I call it home. And that's why Bournemouth's my team Went to school at Stalfield juniors in Eiford and then poor Chester school Chris give us your early memories of being at those two schools Yeah, I mean, I was I was well mad as a kid and I think when I was 10 I was I managed to think most kids did but they you know got on the cherries Academy and stuff like that when I was 10 years old, I think But yeah, I was always always wanted to be captain and center of attention and stuff like that So I think I was captain of the school team at Stalfield And then a few club teams growing up through my teenage years and stuff, but poor Chester was great as well I loved it loved it there. Obviously. It's just over the road from the stadium. I used to live just down the road So it was yes, this feels, you know, Kings Park where we are now is and by the stadium around the stadium and plant Spent half my childhood, you know playing around here whether that's playing football. We used to train over there on the field Just next to a stadium. So this is all very local for me Did you play with anyone who might have gone on to make make the name in the football world? Not like I could think of My mate used to play with Adam Lallana little down juniors as a kid and Yeah, I actually saw Adam last week. He joined us for a C-Dip because he's He's friends with few lads. I know so that was that was good so he we we managed to get him in the in the sea and Yeah, so that was an experience, you know champions league and Premier League winner Getting getting in the sea with us for forcing him in the sea making them nice and uncomfortable Just tell us you had a little break when you're at school. We went off traveling. Just tell us a little bit about that. Yeah, so I Was a very much a spoiled child. I think We my parents downsized the house So we're used to live and they wanted to go traveling before they reach 50 and my brothers are both left school This is I was 11 at a time I just finished junior school and they decided to take us traveling around Australia for a year Well, it was meant to be a year end up being eight months So we started in in Perth in Western Australia and literally went up the West Coast all the way across Spent eight months out there playing zero football because it's you know soccer isn't massive over there but I was doing a lot of BMX in and bodyboarding and different sports and just I guess living the dream, you know, it's what most people do when they leave school I've managed to do it in instead of school And that's like I said, it's probably why I'm a boxer and not not a doctor or something like that Having a year off of school, but it didn't affect me too much. I think it helped me a lot, you know with myself and Sort of when I look back I'm quite a sociable person and I seem to get on can get on with people quite well And I think that was a massive learning curve for me and I still need to repay my parents somehow Maybe take them traveling for a bit. But yeah, so it was a great experience When you were growing up the club was Predominantly third and fourth division and it was a lot more fashionable as a schoolboy to support a Premier League team What made you choose the cherries? I'm probably shouldn't say it's on podcast, but I did have my own Premier League team No, I was a Boomer fan, but I did I did like Chelsea as well when I was younger, but you know I never even saw Chelsea play until I went to watch them. Oh, I know where he gave me with Bournemouth. So But yeah, I just it was like I said, I grew up in you know in where the stadium is it is I like supporting local team and Yeah, it was a great great experience for me just to come to games and stuff and Yeah, and obviously I had a season ticket when I was 12 13 years old and sat in the north stand just behind Nani So my my year drums were a little bit blown from that, but it was a class experience and I You know, I've value those memories usually. So just for the record there Chris Chelsea were your second team, correct, correct Okay, just at school. We all had a hard man in our year when we were at school Were you the hard man in your schools? Absolutely. No, I didn't even box till I left school I started boxing when I was 16. I just went to college and met a mate of mine So, uh, yeah, no at school. I was I was all mouth and All mouth and no action. I think I was quite a cocky little kid to be honest and definitely learn learn how to Act properly probably look back up if I was my own son now I'd be probably quite ashamed of myself. So looking back, but yeah, it's It's you know, I was just I was the youngest of three brothers So with them, you know having those older brothers and you just you get get a little confident And acts acts a way around school, but no, I definitely definitely wasn't the hard man I think most people I mean I can certainly remember I like you Chris I support a lower league team which regular Bournemouth fans will know actually drilling him It's my my home team But I supported asked or as a youngster as well and my first ever game was asked on against Watford Which in 1985 or something which sticks out for me as a memory Can you remember your first time here in the stadium watching Bournemouth? It was actually when I was in the Academy under 10s Funnily enough against Arsenal. It was the think it was Arsenal B team playing playing playing Bournemouth so we had got given tickets because you're in the Cherry's Academy got given tickets, so It's Arsenal reserves. It was one game and I think there was a Chelsea reserves as well game as well So that was the first my first memories have been in the stadium And then like I said, I had a season ticket when I was I came a couple of times to the terraces when when we had the terrorist sand and But can't really remember those games But my main memory is just sitting in the north stand for two seasons And yeah, great memories as a big strapping six foot three lad like you are now I presume Steve Fletcher is one of the early guys that caught your eye. Was he absolutely a big flex was obviously I Would have been my scene ticket would be now in his his stand and Yeah, he was you know, it was a class class player when back then he's the target man him and Hater were dangerous dangerous partnership and I actually was a mascot for his testimonial So I think I walked out of Cold World Hurst and yeah Did a lap of the pitch clapping the fans and with my mate He was the Pompey mascot and my cousin was a Pompey mascot as well because he was a Pompey fan So yeah, it's a I've still got the shirt from the testimonial which I need to get Fletcher to sign at some point I don't think it fits me anymore though. I was probably what 14 15 then so yeah I'm not sure it would fit me anymore. I feel like now you should be signing memorabilia for flex not the other way round So Steve Fletcher who else as a either growing up or even what you now are your your AFC Bournemouth? I'm putting heroes in inverted commas here. Yeah, I mean my my team, you know, I had a season ticket was very much Wade Elliott, you know Steven Perchers was obviously in the side then and Eddie was was playing as well around that time and then it's like Neil Moss and goal Cummings at left back and Gareth O'Connor who You know, I was mentioning earlier to Neil I said that I used to get someone to put a bet on me when there was a little betting station underneath the North stand get someone to put a bet on for me You know put a pound on him to score first goal and you want me a lot of money because he was always quite long-olds and So that was always always fun. But yeah them and then obviously James Hater and Fletcher always up top Remember Brian stock as well, you know, I remember the Cardiff League Cup game where he scored Score the last minute free kick and that was probably the best game I've ever been to even though we lost on penalties It was I think it was a Tuesday night game And it was just a massive memory for me And the best football experience ever even though we lost because it was just such an epic game We scored like the 90th middle late late 80 minutes. So then again in late in Extra time as well to equalize so Yeah, they were very good memories and they're the players I remember most Were you I'm just trying to look at the timings. Were you here for the James Hater hat trick night? Yeah, I was I was actually took my mate was a ball boy And me and my other mate had a season ticket and we were talking to him We were we're probably on the video because we were talking to him as it was You know, it was like last minute or towards the end of the game and the game was one We were just down the front talking to him and then we look up and he was through for his Goal after goal after goal. It was just he was through for his Through for his hat trick. So we're probably on the video, but it's probably not the best quality So you couldn't tell it's us, but I I promise you I was there Just want to put it on the record there that unlike the two Chris's here. I don't support another team by the way so I Recon you were about 12 When we were in the division three playoff final at the millenium millenium stadium Chris, did you go to that? No, I was unfortunately I wanted to I tried and begged my mom to To let me go but we had a family Party up in in less. There's some family friends to watch it and watch it on TV Which is which was obviously nice to be able to watch it on TV But yeah, it was unfortunate. I couldn't make it and I couldn't get my way out of this You know, I was still way too young obviously a mummies boy as well so I had to listen to my mum and I mean, I still am I still listen to her now, but Yeah, it was unfortunately I didn't get to go to the game, but it was it was still the result We wanted did you have any money on garrison corner to score that day? No, I didn't know I didn't couldn't have anyone to put it on for me So you said you had a season ticket. Just tell us what what period was that and when did that sort of stop? I think it was two seasons me and my friend got an absolute bargain I think because we were junior cherries, which was what like a five or something you get half price season ticket I think season it was 60 quid so all in it cost us 35 quid for a season ticket Which now you're lucky to get a ticket for that in the in the well, especially in the last five years, but no it was That that season I think that was 2002 2003 season and then 0304 as well So I had a season ticket there my mate didn't have one for the second season so I used to Come walk up on my own and just sit like I said behind Nonny and in the the famous left side as they like to call it over there and yeah, it was Sat there in my fake stoneland jacket thinking I was around the time Green Street came out I think so I was thinking I was one of the boys, but definitely was not up for any of that Junior cherries memberships only gone up to two pounds in almost 20 years. What value that is great value Now you you've told us that you you played a little bit of football when you're at school And you played for the school team. Just tell us did you want to be a footballer? Yeah, I mean that was my childhood. I always wanted to be a professional footballer and you know, I Like I said that was like having trials for the academy and stuff and I was under tens and then Thought I just keep working and then my parents obviously we went away for eight months All I used I was such a fussy and then all I used to eat was pies cheese toaster cheese sandwiches and chips And that was all I ate in Australia. I think for for eight months. Yeah, I mean that's been my diet for the last week to be fair, but Yeah, I think I came back I was a little bit overweight started playing again for a brand school when I was because I briefly went to school at Home field when I came back and then closed down and stuff. So Before I moved to poor Chester and then yeah, it was I Was playing there and just I soon realized that it wasn't it wasn't to wasn't to be I was you know, I was way behind that sort of level, but I still believed that I was probably about 15 I've been a professional footballer and But it wasn't to be but I had that mindset, you know I'd play on a Sunday morning so I wouldn't drink on a Saturday night And I think that's all that sort of mindset has put me a good stead to the career. I've actually ended up having now We gather you a bit of an all-rounder at sports school You tried a lot of things you went skiing and all sorts of not every other sport you could try What where else did you some of your specialisms lie? Or did you literally were you jack of all trades and hadn't quite mastered one by then? Yeah? I mean, I there's not a sport. I didn't try to play hockey on a Sunday morning and football on a Sunday afternoon I went diving on Thursday nights down Paul Dolphin Center I was I tried I badminton. I was I was on got on to the Dorset squad, but there was you know, probably 30 40 50 kids there and I was by far the worst used to go there on a Sunday for two hours when I stopped playing hockey and Yeah, it's not I did karate as a kid briefly fencing all sorts of trampoline And I actually got an A star in my practical and GCSE So just I was just yeah, I loved all sports I was just that kid and I was always gonna end up in sports and one way or another and obviously I did personal training and stuff at college as well, so Yeah, that was sport was always my my love and I started boxing when I left school and ended up being after I it So carried it on you mentioned your mom earlier on I think I'm right say she lives almost you can almost see a house From the stadium. Can you a bit further over the park? Yeah? She's just in in Boscombe just just off searoad So she you know she likes walking down to the pier and stuff So it's yes nice and close nice and close to it sounds like she had a workout faring you or your family did faring you around All these things when you were youngsters. Yeah, I mean I everything to my mom and dad my dad was always away work and he works on in the film industry and he was always you know earning earning the money and My mom was just so supportive of me or anything I wanted to do or didn't want to do it was never pushy or anything like that So yeah, I like I said I own a lot You mentioned your boxing when it started to take off at Wikipedia that official source Mentioned you were about 16 when you started to take it seriously Is that about right and what sort of what clicked for you then what was it that you decided? Okay? This is this is what I want to do now. Yeah, I am I First start well 16 was when I started training properly. I met a mate at college called Dean Perkins and he was We come really close So when I'm starting training with him and then I went and watched him fight and it was everyone was there chanting Dino like just and I just remember stopping the chant and just thinking that must be an amazing feeling to have that Atmosphere like I said I'm the youngest of three brothers So being center of attention was was very much at the forefront of my mind So I thought that must be an epic feeling for me. That was as a kid I wanted, you know, you wanted 11,000 fans chanting your name player for a football team but Boxing that was was you know, everyone was there just for you and I Watched that and I was like right next year on this show. I'm gonna box on this show next year And I ended up having a one fight before then and then my second fight was on the same show exactly a year later And I just fell in love with the sport. I just I only did it to get fit for football originally And then just that that feeling of just it's all on you I absolutely love you know, you can have the best game of your life as a footballer and still lose and I hated not being in control of that and It I'd now obviously anything would lose or draw in boxing. It's it's down to you It's it's in your hands and I guess I like having that control Come back to boxing next Chris. Have you ever been to watch a well-cut finals football match? at school we We were in we'd just leave in school And at poor Chester and the school actually got ripped off for some tickets and then like from fake tickets for a school trip for a Younger year, then they got given like double the amount for other games So they the kids that were meant to go before were all went and then we were have really close all my friendship group we're really close with our sports teachers and They actually took us to Germany port school for a place playoff final in Stuttgart And No, there was no one a no ID over there. There was just you know, we get a coach over there got off the coach There were our teachers trusted us enough whether that was wise or not I don't know but they trusted us enough to go off into a Interstit gut for the day and we were Just basically doing a pub cause I was actually was I think I was 15 at time because 15 years old and 16 I mean, I don't drink anymore, but I had a we had a few drinks that day And it was just an epic sort of 48 hour trip The worst thing was watching the football and obviously as we're all football fans But it was just such an eventful day bars and stuff and just madness of being at a World Cup and a fair place playoff And it was just it was just crazy how How we were over there and it was all very last minute because of the way it worked out But yeah, that was a great experience a great trip and one that always live They've been a very fond memory of mine That's a fantastic answer Chris if we just cut the bit out about the underage drinking that'll be appreciated. Thanks very much Now then representing Paul amateur boxing club as an amateur obviously when you were much younger you reached To a BA championship finals and you lost both. How much of a dent was that to you? Yeah, it was it's tough to take especially the first one the first one we were certain I'd won it I've got out the ring and someone who was sat next to the judge who worked for The amateur governing body grabbed my arm and said you were absolutely robbed their mate So it was hard to see him getting given the trophy and I think you got a belt then as well And that was tough today against Jack Massey who hopefully and I'll be able to get more revenge now because he's a pro He's any lost one easy doing well But yeah, that was 2013 But I got a great bit an assessment off the back of it and it was a really good, you know Really good year for me. I'd had again end up having eight or nine fights that year and we're only losing that one in the final So It was always a longer process. It's not obviously you go into championships wanting to win him But for me, it's never the end goal. It's you know, it's constant progression And it's all about my performance rather than the result and I was pleased with how I performed So I took it as well as I could. I remember my brother crying his eyes out He'd had a few drinks and crying his eyes out being absolutely good for me but yeah, it was We were up in up in Sunderland and didn't get a decision but it was a we still made a good night of it and obviously There's the second one was was in in Liverpool at the Echo Arena and boxed three times in three days and lost A good fighter in chef chevron Clark who's now on the Great Britain squad Hopefully gets chance to make the Olympics. I think he won a bronze at the Commonwealth game. So Yeah, lost that one. That was another close one But it's style. Probably, you know, the judges would definitely favorite style, but yeah, it just drives you on I think, you know, you can they can make your break you losses like that For me, just got to keep looking how he can improve and how he can get better. So I don't don't regret the results at all. I just use them as as more fuel to the fire a Friend of a friend was watching you boxing on the TV the other day And he said I'm sure that guy used to deliver a Chinese takeaway to me Now, is there any truth you or wants a Chinese takeaway delivery driver? That is true for Dragon Palace in Barrett Road and Unfortunately, I heard it's closing down, which is sad. I used to love love working for them It was four hours on a Friday night four hours on a Saturday night I used to deliver Chinese and it was it was eventful, you know, but I enjoyed it I it was a very simple job Not the best paid unless it was Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve Then I used to work them until about half eight and then you'd earn you probably had about 20 quid an hour doing that Then so that was all right. Good money just for driving some food around and yeah I enjoyed that job. It was a it was one of the more enjoyable jobs I've had a long list of different jobs. I've done but yeah, no, that is that is true Turning pro you were snapped up by Barry McGuigan's cyclone promotions. Just explain how that all unfolded Yeah, it was I was I was friends of Shane McGuigan who's now my coach obviously Barry's son I was friends of his right-hand man on Facebook I just used to accept anyone thinking, you know, no, my mom said you never had too many friends Don't think she meant on Facebook, but nonetheless, it was accepted everyone in friends of him or face But he messed me one day saying can you come and spy on London tomorrow never even spoke to him before just sort of knew We're both in the boxing world And yeah, and he just messed me saying he come and spy on London tomorrow And I said, yeah, no worries. What time and where and he simply address said you've been doing six hours of George Groves Who at the time had just lost his third world title fight to a battle jack and no one knew he was training with Shane And I was like, okay, that's an interesting link up like so when inspired George and in London and and I think it was George's first bar under Shane as well And for me George Groves was my favorite fighter So it was it was crazy to think at the time that you know, I'm gonna Just share the ring with him. I said to him after the spa after the first post Thanks George is honest to share the ring with you And yeah, and then Shane just kept getting me back to spar George I did a little bit of David Hay because he was training David Hay at the time as well And then when it got round to you know, I had my GB assessments and I got to the third the final stage and didn't get in I wanted to turn pro. So I just I asked Shane and Thankfully said he said yes and thought I'd start at the top and work my way down He's obviously a very sought-after trainer I'm one of the best in the world. I think he's proven that time and time again at such a young age as well And yeah for me, I just thought I'll start there and if not, you know, maybe he can advise me on someone to go with And then thankfully took me on I think it was meant to be on a part-time basis But I just turned up on a Monday. I didn't leave till Friday. So it was all right so yeah, it was It's worked out super me and Shane are really good friends. I've got a really good relationship And then obviously with Shane get Barry and Cyclone and they they had a lot of shows on Channel 5 At the time and I was able to box down here Which is you know, some promoters only like you to box on their show, but they were happy for me to keep building and I had four fights in 11 weeks at the beginning of my career, which is unheard of Because I got to box obviously at the O2 Academy in Boscombe on my debut And then have fights on on undercards of the the cyclone shows and also George Groves one So yeah at Wembley Arena and then I managed to get four fights in 11 weeks So yeah, it's a great link up to link up with obviously such massive names and I've become friends with them and you know And you know their family when it comes to boxing. So it's a it's really I owe a lot to them as well Because it's been such a good relationship and Thanks to them and got me to where I am now I don't think it would be unfair Chris to say that Bournemouth is not a hotbed for boxing So obviously for you to break out if you like from Bournemouth into the the bright lights And there'll be a lot of football fans listening to this you have a passing interest in boxing I would describe myself as a layman sort of boxing fan I'll watch all the big fights, but actually behind the scenes you talk about your route there into Various promotions and then onto certain shows. How much of that are you still battling? Do you still battle for yourself in how much do you have a manager who leads everything? How much do you do you get scouted in the early stages by by for example, you know Cyclone promotions? How much of it is controlled by managers and promoters for someone at your level now? Now it's I mean, it's you know, my fights get decided by Shane and the team We've obviously Eddie her and I've been on his shows for the last four or five fights So yeah, the fights get offered to Shane and then they say yes to the opponent and then You know negotiate a purse and that's they work from for you, you know, that's what they're they get their percentages for And they're they're superb at it and they really look after me You know, they try and get the the most money they can which in a sport boxing isn't isn't why everyone sees It's not your Mayweather's and your Joshua's It's not your driving Lamborghinis and and all those sort of things and and if you don't fight you don't get paid Unless you've got sponsors So it's a it's a real tough business and it's only the you know I always say it's only less than 1% that can retire and never have to work again So it's a it's a tough business. So you have to have a good team around you. I'm very fortunate to have that The team around you I mean Barry McGuigan when he was world featherweight champion in the mid 1980s You weren't born. I was only just born Neil was about 40 What's it like having someone like Barry McGuigan in your camp someone with such a standing in the sport as he's got Yeah, he's obviously a massive name. He's an absolute Hero he's a he's a Hall of Famer, you know to be in the boxing Hall of Fame You can't you can't just be anyone and what he did Used his you know status for over in Ireland and bringing, you know, the Protestants the Catholics together and Everyone you know, there was when he boxed everyone was watching it and a lot of them watching it together And he really done a lot But also his passion for the sport now is is still he's there every sparring session You know, there's no need for him to come and watch some random kid for Bournemouth who's had one pro fight with his son to You know, he's not bothered, but he's genuinely has a Has an interest in it and wants us to do well And he's you know, he's so passionate about the sport still he'll you hear him a ring side I'm probably heard in the other night on the TV was he was saying saying lots You can hear when I watched it back could hear him because obviously there's no no crowds there So he's he's very heavily invested and even the lads he doesn't manage like he doesn't manage Anthony Fowler Or Lawrence or Curly, but he's still there in the gym for all their sparring sessions and helping them as well So yeah, he's having someone like that in the gym Who's been there done it got the t-shirt and and the belts and and the Hall of Fame status And he's still there just helping some some lad from Bournemouth, you know It's great to have him in the in the corner We'll come back to your cherries links in a moment But obviously I know you get a lot of support from cherries fans as well Don't you and I don't know if it's by design, but your your CBS branded kit You're wearing is red and black in front of us. Is that by design? Yeah, yeah, I took it stick with the form of colors the cherries colors You know, I haven't kept up with the the new training kits and stuff But yeah, I've always gone black, red and gold because of the cherries We'll come back to your brand and kid a minute because that's one of our fans questions actually But just before we obviously remiss of us not to talk about your amazing success over the last couple of years, but where does the gentleman your nickname come from? I mean, I think myself and Neil have already found out the first time we met you that that's very much the case But whose idea was it to call you professionally the gentleman? Yeah, we were looking for a nickname in the gym. We couldn't think of one My brother's always joked and called me the golden child because I was spoiled as a kid and I always got my way with with my with my mom and stuff So they joked and called me a golden child and that's the only name I sort of might have had But then when I hadn't been to any Olympic Games or Commonwealth Games and got a gold medal, it didn't quite fit And then they were trying to think of a name in the gym and stuff like that And I had no idea and Shane just said, what about the gentleman? And they all liked it and then Shane's brother Blaine was wanting to say just gentleman But Shane was like, oh, the gentleman and I'm in an hour because there's been a few, you know, monikers in the in the past of a gentleman Jim Corbett who's a boxer And so I just went with the gentleman and it just it just stuck So yeah, Shane come up with it Don't know where maybe I just said please more than the other lads in the gym And and that was it Just looking over my shoulder, Chris, I'm a bit where we might need to take a little break I'm looking in the car park and there's a Lamborghini out there CBS one getting a ticket and that's not yours, is it? Wavy one day, I don't think I'd choose a Lambo, but that would be Yeah, that's definitely not mine Cast your mind back to September 2017, Chris, your first pro fight against Russ Henshaw at the O2 Academy One with a first round knockout must have been a dream start to your pro career Yeah, absolutely. I mean, as an amateur, I've won technically I had two stoppages One was a cut, so that's not really a class as a stoppage as such But and the other one was unfortunately the same lad in a later fight And I stopped him on his feet and I wasn't really known as a big puncher I was an out and out boxer, but when I joined Shane and that it was something they taught me to believe in my punch power a bit more And I dropped a few lads in the gym and sparring and started believing in myself more So to then go into your pro debut when the gloves are a bit smaller And there are men in there and they set their feet more and they really let them go to get in there with Russ Henshaw I was actually I would have was going to box him in the amateurs at one stage And then, yeah, and I knew a lot of lads who'd boxed him through their careers before me had stopped him early. I wasn't going in there looking for it But it just came and it was just such an amazing feeling to walk out You know, like I said, it's probably 400 meters away from my mom's house My mom's flat where she lives now. So I'm there and just walking out the the arena is probably where I had my first kiss at some under 18's night And I've been to so many gigs there as well. So I've walking out on the stage It's just a great arena. The noise just echoes round and I had obviously you know, probably over 100 tickets for 150 tickets or something and to have loads of friends and family there to perform like I did and get the first round knock out. It was a real special moment for me and one I'll always always remember in my career. Just a quick one, Neil, before you cut this is the Opera House, of course for those who are slightly older, which now this is a very I've heard you describe this as maybe the punters watching ants in a soup can because it is a tall cylindrical not not an ideal venue. But as you say, maybe an amazing venue in terms of noise if you're the homeboy. Yeah, absolutely. It's like is that I just that's the best way I can describe it is is that just imagine just the cylinder of people just with a ring at the bottom of it and it's that's all it is. It's not like a a rectangular venue. It's made from music and the acoustics and very small arena. I think only we know, I don't think we've ever sold it out. But I think only 900 fit in there. So I think we've probably had 600 at a show. It's not a huge amount of people, but the noise in there is just absolutely epic as a great little arena. So yeah, the the old Opera House has changed a little bit. I think my brother used to go to raves there and I used to get under 18 nights. But yeah, it's changed a little bit. So to have my day view there was a real special experience. I'm glad you reminded us used to be the Opera House. I remember that kissing area quite well. Anyway, ahead of your second profile, October 2017, you met Eddie Howard, Wembley Arena. That must have been a special moment for you. Yeah, it was a former for a way at Tottenham when they were playing at Wembley. It was the Friday we had the way in just across from the arena and the stadium at a place over there. Then me and George were weighing in. I was waiting after George because I was sort of with the team and George Groves was in the world title fight, etc. And he went and weighed in and then everyone left the room and then I quickly jumped on the scales just to say they could tick off my name. But we were in the in the waiting area before the weigh in. And George goes, Chris, I put your mate turn around and Eddie Howard's there. And I was like, just I've probably a bit starstruck, to be honest, because for me, it was like it was just so random. And it wasn't like I think if you see someone, you know, you're going to see them like the stadium or something like it's it's less, you know, less impact. But I saw him just, you know, obviously it was George's George's agent was, you know, new Eddie or was a friend of Eddie's. And yeah, they came over and I think they were going to come to the fight at day one. But unfortunately, I think we lost one nil that day or one or two nil. But yeah, it was a great experience. Had a good chat with Eddie and obviously he's a boxing fan. Mainly the Rocky films, I believe. But yeah, it was it was a real nice experience for me. It was it just seemed that, you know, very the stars had aligned that day for the Bournemouth to be playing top number. I think a few of my mates went to the game and then come over and a few cherries fans went to the game and then came straight over to the arena. Just about made it. I think a couple of you missed it because I was on so early. Yeah, but yeah, it was a great experience for me. I think one of his sons is actually called Rocky as well. Well, what did he tell you that night? Anything that stuck with you or anything and vice motivation? I to be honest, I was making weights. I probably can't remember the conversation when you I was probably a bit dry at the time because you got to be a certain way. But no, we just I think it was just a very general conversation about he's his, you know, he loves the sport and it's slightly different to football and stuff like that. And but yeah, he had a lot of respect for the sport in general. And I know he he got George Groves to come down when Bournemouth would play and Sheffield United away because that's where George won his World title with Bramble Lane and I was there that night and he got George down to come do a talk for the lads. And that was I was kind of I couldn't come into the stadium that day. Eddie Howe and George Groves. That's my my sporting sporting idols together. So that would have been an epic picture for me of George. You sent me a picture of him and Eddie together. And I was very jealous. But no, it was so yeah, obviously Eddie, Eddie's a big boxing fan and knows, you know, the the mentality side of it and tried to use it with George as well. The ecstasy of winning your first pro fight and then you suffered the agony of losing your to date. Only for the first fight you've lost to Richard react poor at the O2 arena. What was that like? Because it cost you a title. What was it like to taste defeat for the first time? Yeah, it's a tough one in the corner. I've gone back to the corner after the night frown that it was a 10 rounder and they had me up, had me up, think they had me up two rounds. But I still thought, you know, go out there and make sure in the last round and it was a close last round. We thought I'd won it and I was I was confident and he didn't seem to be confident either at the end of the fight. So yeah, it was it was one of them again, where I performed OK. It wasn't my best performance. I looked back, but at the time I performed quite well as my first step up and for, you know, I definitely done myself justice even in defeat. So it's easier to take like that. If, you know, if I've gone in there and not performed and got soundly beaten, then it's there's no real excuses. And for me, like I said earlier, it's always about the performance side of things. And I was pleased with my performance at the time. So it was slightly easier to take. But I just remember walking out and like I said earlier, watching my mate Dean Box and everyone chanting his name. I remember being at the start of my ring walk and everyone chanting Billam and it's done over 200 tickets. And there was just this my name's going around the arena. So for me, like I was able to enjoy it as well as getting there and perform. So that was a nice memory for me. Obviously, it's the feet, hopefully one I can put right eventually. But off the back of it, I've, you know, got back in the gym and put the work in and obviously got a couple of titles since. You say you bounce straight back four months after losing for the first time. You went back to the Liverpool arena and you became WBA Commonwealth cruiser. Well, weight champion. How sweet was that so soon to bounce back? Yeah, to have a title fight straight after the losses. I was fortunate to get the opportunity, but I'd sparred Craig Gulliver before who's a very, very good fighter. And it was really all enough in that night for me in my head. I hadn't had the best camp. So it's not sparred great. The last bar had was OK, was a was a better spar. But I'm very strong, you know, strong minded in the sense of doesn't matter what happens. It's you just go in there perform and it's almost like it will be right on the night sort of thing in the sense of my mentality in regards to what happens. I believe I could just turn that switch and turn it on the night. And that's what happened for me on that night in November 2019. I was able to get the victory against a good fighter. And nothing was stopping me that night. And it was an absolutely epic, epic night for me. I think the celebration showed that there's the video of me screaming while the ref steps in. So, yeah, it was a really big win for me. And it done a lot for my career and my confidence on that. When you get a professional title for the first time to your name, how did that change you? I mean, you're a very calm, level headed character. We've seen and heard that from everything we've heard for you, not just today, but in the past on your podcast and your interviews and things as well. But how did it change you? Did it change you? Or was it important that it didn't change you? I've got to do a pitch walk at the Liverpool game a couple of weeks later, which was here at the stadium, which is about as far as it goes. You know, which is nice to be able to walk out onto a pitch which I dreamed of playing on and still dream of hopefully fighting on one day with a belt that, you know, it was against Liverpool as well. I'd won the belt in Liverpool. Result didn't go away that day, unfortunately. But no, I don't think I think once you achieve something, it seems very easy to do. Like if you told me 10 years ago when I started boxing, or 12, 13 years ago when I started boxing, that you're going to be Commonwealth champion and you're going to do a pitch walk at AFC Bournemouth and all that. Then it's it's I would have, you know, I would have bit your arm off. But now once you achieve it, it seems like anyone could do it. And the goal is you never I try and enjoy the moment enjoy the journey as much as possible, but then I'm always set new goals. So I think that keep and in the gym, I'm surrounded by well-class boxes. Obviously, like what we spoke about earlier, Barry McGregoran, who's a Hall of Famer, you're never going to beat his career really the way it went and how he carried himself as a man. And then Shane's trained multiple world champions. I've sparred both champions and people have achieved a lot more than me. And I think that helps keep keeping you grounded because you're not you're just a, you know, a small fish in a big pond rather than, you know, maybe if I trained in a different gym where no one had achieved anything and you and you win a big belt like Commonwealth title or whatever it is, then it might have been different. But no, for me, I'm humbled by everyone I'm around. So there's definitely no gloating or anything like that. And I've not achieved what I want to achieve yet. You mentioned in that answer that your dream is maybe to or a dream is to fight out here at the stadium on the on the AFC Bournemouth playing surface. Does that in a sort of strange sort of way keep you motivated because that would be a big fight. That would be have to be a world title shot, presumably to make something happen here and how realistic is that kind of thing in terms of people would say, what do you want to fight at the Bournemouth stadium? You can fight a Wembley Arena or, you know, the O2 Arena with the greatest of respect at AFC Bournemouth Stadium. No, it means a lot to me. Like I said, I've got so many good memories here. It's football was always my dream, my dream career. So I'm not going to become a professional footballer. I'm not going to get paid for the club. So it's the closest thing I can get to it. But yeah, be an absolute. That is the dream to have to fight. Obviously, fight for a world title. If we could fight for a world title here on the pitch, it would just be the ultimate goal. I absolutely love that feel the stadium out. And, you know, it'd be a be a real special moment for me. And I mean, just to get a showdown in Bournemouth now is sort of the short term goal is just to bring a TV televised show down here. That'd be great, which we're we're working on. But yeah, it's the dream is to fight on the pitch. How much of an inspiration is your stablemate, Lawrence Akoli, because he obviously recently won his World Cruiserweight title. And he's a great example of someone who in the space of what, five, six, seven years was working in McDonald's was was completely out of shape and turned everything around us and has won a world title. Do you do you use him? I guess as an example of what you can achieve? Absolutely. You know, Lawrence is a phenomenal athlete and his mindset is his mindset is fantastic. He's he puts the work in and some every day in the gym at one stage. You know, before he joined the gym, he was sort of, you know, what I was aiming towards of to fight him. But he's just further on in his career than me. He's won a world title, looks to unify now. And then he wants to move up to heavyweight and give that a go. So, you know, we've become good friends in the gym. I'm fortunate to have him in the gym for sparring and develop me as a fighter and an athlete as well. So it's it's great to have people like that in the gym who, like I said, I've been very fortunate to always pretty much we've always had a world champion or at least someone fighting for a world title in the gym. So you train. I was training for my first, second, third, fourth, fifth fight like a world champion because that's that's the only thing you can do in the gym is train at that level. And I think that's what brought me on so much. And Shane sets that sets that precedent in the gym and just make sure everyone's training that the elite level to achieve that goal. Chris, when you won this first title, you spoke and fondly about your circle of friends that you've known since since school days. You don't strike me as a sort of guy who's going to leave them behind. How did they and you celebrate that first title? Was it, you know, did you take everybody to Ibiza? Or did you just go to the Eiffel Bridge Tavern or what? Funny enough, most of my close mates weren't there because it was one of my mates birthday parties at night and the fight got he'd already put the venue down here. So most of them weren't there. So I might have to choose some new friends. So yeah, so they all they all celebrated down here. They all watched it in a in a club down here and they all got it got it on their iPad. They had like three iPads going and a screen as well, I think. And I think one of them was behind. So if I'm celebrating at one side of the room, but I wish it'd been videoed because I would have loved to have seen their reaction when I was just said right there. And let's I think after the fight, they all got some shots in and most of them don't remember the rest of the night. So that's a pretty good story. But the week after I just hired a little place out and got everyone down there and, you know, just celebrated with them. And it was great. So many people came came down and got to, you know, thank them for their support. And there was a few people there that night as well, friends of family, close friends that I'd box with and stuff. And then a few people made the trip all the way to Liverpool to to come and watch me fight. So I hope that's one of the main reasons I'd love to bring a show down here to to thank people for for their support and travelling around the country to support me. I know you've said in the past how keen you are to encourage young people to take up the sport. Now, there's a link with the Dorset Children's Foundation. A couple of our players have got a link with them as well. Just tell us tell us what your link is with the Dorset Children's Foundation. Yeah. So Alex Deutsch, now the chair, he he's a friend of mine from primary school. He a massive charity fan as well. And he asked me to if I'd like to be an ambassador, which is an honour to be considered, you know, big enough name to become an ambassador for such a great, great charity. They do a lot of work and it's all nonprofit and they help so many children. And yeah, so I become an ambassador for them. I'm actually seeing I think they've got a football day. They're allowed to start up again on Saturday, so I'm going down there then. So that'd be be great to see the kids. And you've got most of the kids, they're a Bournemouth fans to see him at the game sometime and it's great to see with them. But it also gives the the family's connection and friendships with, you know, other parents going through similar situations with their children and stuff. But it's a great, great charity, great foundation. You know, it's a real honour to be, you know, an ambassador for them. I know you sparred with some of the goalkeepers here. Chris, just tell us which one of those could pack a punch. I think I took, yeah, I've taken them on the pads. I took Arta on the pads and we did a bit of shoulder sparring as well. Another part where obviously now he's left the club, but we keep in touch. And and Begavitch as well as me was took him on the pads and they were both very heavy handed. And then obviously at the time Rambo was here and Mark Travers as well. Was was we were doing a few I was just up the gym and helping out a little bit with them. But now I think Begavitch could use his reach and his height. And he's definitely packing a punch as well, getting behind the jab. And he cruises wave to a few victories. There aren't many people who admit to being happy to taking Arta Boric on anything involving punching or any kind of physical. That's that was a brave man. Now, let's come bring it back to you, I guess, to Dorset Sport and to football, because you don't just follow the first. If you already mentioned you came to a game against Liverpool reserves and Arsenal reserves and Chelsea reserves. But you also go to under 21 and under 18 games before the pandemic hit as well. I mean, do you have particular links with those squads? Or is that just because you love watching the cherries in any form? Yeah, well, my my friend host a few of the under 21s and under 18s players. And I got to know a few Jake Scrimshaw, who's obviously Newport County at the moment. And yeah, he's obviously was scoring goal after goal for the under 21s. Yeah. And I just went and watched him. I think they played playing Southampton happen up an easily way. And yeah, when I watch that game and I enjoy watching football of the sport when I'm in camp or watched them in the when they played the man city game here and watched them on the on my phone in camp. But yes, like I said, I love the sport. And it's great to see the younger lads coming through and, you know, getting in the in the squad now for the for the first team. And yeah, like I said, I enjoy the sport as a whole and on all levels. And got a friend of a used to come down the boxing club. Tommy Scott, who's go he's goalkeeper at Southampton under 21s now. So try even though he's a Bournemouth fan, he's a he's a Bournemouth fan. But he's has to put on the put on a Saint shirt to get his games. But I told him I'll get him to the club one day. He's going to graft it graft his way and get to a proper club. Hopefully this podcast will be sort of bringing you to a new audience of Bournemouth fans as well. But a lot of them, of course, are aware of you already, not just because you have a long link with the town and you probably went to school with a lot of them and and of sporting wise come up against a lot of them. But how have you found that the support from Bournemouth fans and everybody who knows about Bournemouth suddenly linking you and the and the club together? Yes, it's it's brilliant. And I look up a lot for that. Obviously, they've shared a lot on my my, you know, information of fights and support me through Twitter and all sorts. And it's a real honor. And then the fans have jumped on board as well, which is which is great. And I'm very fortunate to have such a diverse fan base, you know, people I know and people I don't know, you know, getting messages, which sometimes you get stopped in the street walking through Bournemouth. And it's just crazy. Like they might be around a cherry shell or whatever it is. So just get you get stopped in the street and say, well done on your fight and stuff like, you know, you don't know me. And it's just even now it's still so surreal to have such a wide and diverse fan base. And yeah, but the fans of the club are obviously ones that I'm very fortunate to have because we've got a similar interest in the club and they support me as well, which is nice. Chris, turning the clock back a few years, I remember working on the local paper and we didn't have too much to shout about when it came to individual sports. Nowadays, we've got people like Georgia Hall winning open championships and Scott Mitchell in Darts and you on the on the in the boxing ring as well. Does it give you a sort of sense of pride to be putting the county on the sporting map alongside people like that? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I've got yourself to thank and Ian Wadley to thank for doing articles of me when I was an amateur. I don't know if I sent it to you or Ian. I was trying to trying to get the paper because I used to collect articles of other boxes from in the local paper and have them up on my little pinboard as inspiration. So no, thank you for writing about me and sharing my name in the paper. But yeah, like, you know, Scott is obviously I've had him on my own podcast, a great bloke support of the club. And yeah, he's obviously now he's got his PDC tour card. So happy for him because he's been a while now since he won his BDO World Championship and, you know, a few years, but he's kept grinding away. And it's great. And then obviously, Georgia Hall's doing so well on the golf. You know, one of the best golfers in the world. So it's it's mad to be put up there with those names and to be in the paper alongside those names and players or the club, you know, in the same paper for me, I still collect every article. I actually went out the other night because I'd done an interview with Dan Rose from the Echo and somebody told me about half nine at night that I was in the paper that day and I hadn't got out and got it. And I tried to go out and everywhere already packed their papers from that day away. And I couldn't get it. So I'm going to have to write to Dan and try and get him to send me the articles and so I can so I can collect them all. And yeah, I keep I'm very much one for memorabilia and getting all the getting all my paper cuttings out and stuff like that. When it comes to me and Wadley, if there were any spelling mistakes in any of those articles, it would definitely be Wadley. Just going back to Scotty Dog, do you fancy a chances of beating him at darts? No, absolutely not. We used to have a dartboard in the gym and I played darts the other day. Actually, they did a nine dart challenge in the in the bubble last week. And I think I came second over all over the people they'd had in the bubble, even previous shows and stuff, which I'm going to I'm going to like that it was pure skill. But the darts before that would wouldn't suggest so. But it's got to give me some of his darts. But I need to definitely would love to play a game with him, help him give me some tips. What about you beating him at boxing? What about him beating you at boxing? It's not my weight division. I think he's a heavyweight. So I have to avoid him. It might be might be heavy handed. He's got pretty heavy darts. So I know he likes a pretty, you know, I think he uses a 24 gram darts. That's quite a heavy dart. So he's obviously going to be heavy handed. So I wouldn't want to take a punch off him. What about we were to compromise and put you on speedway bikes around Paul Stadium? How do you think you get what I don't know? I used to use to have a I think my dad used to let us ride a little pit bike around Kings Park, actually just next to the stadium. So yeah, I might be able to beat him on that one. Interesting. Scott Mitchell was on your podcast a few weeks back, wasn't he? Talking at the perfect athlete podcast. By the way, we've got to drop it in somewhere. Great podcast. You've had Junior Stanislaus on there as well, which is fascinating for particularly listening to his penalty techniques and things like that. But just going back to you and Scott, you vastly different sports. And Scott Scott, why mind us saying that I'm sure and different weight divisions as you correctly pointed out. But in terms of the individual nature of those, you mentioned it yourself earlier on about being fully in control. There's no one to blame. If you haven't practiced your darts enough, if you haven't spied well enough, there's nobody to blame apart from yourself. So I guess you draw parallels to those kind of sports. Georgia Hall would be the same in golf as well. Yeah, absolutely. You know, I the reason I got Scott on the podcast, I think people give to try and give darts a bad name. You know, it's just a pub game and all this. But these people that are saying that also aren't earning money from the sport. So it's funny if it's that easy, why aren't they doing it? But I've got so much respect for all sports. Like I said earlier, I love all sports and I've always tried different sports and the mindset to to be able to, you know, darts is the same motion over and over again, it'd be like a box of standing steel and just throwing one punch for time and time again. And for me, that's a mindset in itself to be able to do that. For me, it would be boring, but for them to be able to keep doing it and keep pushing like that, that's a different mindset. And I've got a lot of respect for that. And that's exactly why I had him on the podcast. And yeah, that that individualism of the sport, you know, it's, you know, it's down to you. And I think that's why I can draw parallels to them. The podcast is fascinating because obviously you're on the other side of the fence today, which do you prefer, by the way, being asked the same questions about boxing over and again, or being able to dictate the narrative yourself. This is nice to the usual compared to the usual interviews I do. It's not just all boxing. It's obviously it's like I said, I want to be on your club's podcast, but yeah, I love hosting as well. It's it's I need to get a few more guests in. I haven't released one for a while. And I think I'm getting getting told off by a few people for your listeners. Don't worry about. I mean, they've got to catch some slack, haven't they? Yeah. Well, I say I've been in camp and stuff. So it's thought I've been back in my mind, but no, I love it. And I love for me. It's not going to do it for it doesn't make me money or anything like that or business or anything like that. It's just a passion of mine. And I just love finding those ones and two percent in different sports, different athletes and seeing what what makes people how they improve. And if I can use it even better, but yeah, it's really, really interest me. And I just love being love being a host of a podcast. It's the perfect athlete podcast. Once you finish listening to the official AFC Bournemouth podcast and all the back catalog episodes, of course, as well, there's a great back. Back catalog of Chris Bill and Smith's podcast just before we got some supporter questions to finish with in a in a second as well. But let's just scroll back briefly to your recent fight against Vassil Doosar, where you it was a close decision, wasn't it? On points, WBA Continental Cruiserweight title at Wembley Arena a couple of weeks ago. And first of all, lots of people have watched it. We've already talked about it. How did you feel that fight went? Obviously, you got the result you wanted, but did you get the performance you wanted? Yeah, I felt very much in control in the fight after watching it back. I think I think I've got a lot of stick for taking quite a few shots. And I can see why watching it back, but it's strange in there. I just don't seem to feel half the punches like you feel. And when you get hit with a really good shot and you get buzzed, but I think unless they buzz, buzz me at the moment, I don't seem to feel in, which is a bad thing moving forward. You know, you're losing points. The whole idea is to hit and not get hit. So any boxers that are watching me, don't do what I do and take too many shots. But no, it's it was a good learning fight for me. I knew how tough he was. I don't think anyone else has dropped him twice in a fight and I managed to do that. So and he's been in there with some good, good opponents as well. So it was a real, really good fight for me to get another 10 rounds in. Felt very comfortable in there. Had another gear, which I didn't want to have to, you know, use it because I knew how tough he was. And if you don't get him out of there, then you can be, you can be absolutely, you know, done in. And, you know, he can get on top and get some confidence. So, yeah, I felt very much in control in the fight and obviously got a couple of knockdowns as well. And Shane was pleased, but there's plenty to work on as well. So I'll be doing that now. And what is the next target in terms of timescale? What are you looking to fight again? And what's what's looking like it's in the pipeline? We're trying to get the European title again, shot against Tommy McCarthy, who's from from Northern Ireland. So it'd be a, you know, he boxed some atrium as well. So it'd be a great, great fight. He's to make very similar stage of our career. He's also got a loss to Richard Rihapur. And yeah, that'd be a great fight for me. I love that in the summer. I think he's got one defense first. So I'd love to be able to get that. Yeah, get that fight made for the summer. But if it's later in the summer, then hopefully I can get someone in in the meantime because I like to stay busy. I'd be very fortunate during the pandemic to box twice already. So yeah, hopefully I can get that fight signed off and then hopefully box in the meantime as well. One more football one before we do some questions. Chris, when the cherries clinched promotion to the Premier League by beating Bolton out here, I understand you attended the game wearing fancy dress. Can you tell us what you were wearing and why? I'm going to have to correct you. I wasn't attended the game. Me and my mate watched it. You can see his house from here. It is house because you can get a ticket. And he was like, all right, if we win, we'll run over the stadium. He was like, should we dress up? So he's got a Tweety Pie silvester costume. I can't remember which one I was now. I think I was Tweety Pie. So I dressed up as Tweety Pie and he dressed up as Silvester. We ran across, managed to run through the gate on the pitch. And then we managed to get on Sky Sports and everything because one of our mate came and he was wearing, I think he borrowed my mate's mum's blouse and that was it. So he had like no trousers on just in his boxer shorts and I think even, I think who's commentating that day? Thinking, what was it, Jake Comfort? No, I can't remember who's commentating. Someone was commentating and yeah, they were saying, oh my goodness, the man with no trousers on. And that was one of my mates. And I was next to dressed as Tweety Pie. So pretty funny story. Okay, we're going to get, getting towards the end, Chris, but we always on the, on Twitter, hashtag AFCB pod asked some supporters for a few questions to finish with. Let's first of all go with Paul Dean's question, who says, who is your favorite Cherry's player of all time and who, in your opinion, is the best cruiserweight of all time? You may have touched on the first bit earlier. Yeah, I mean, my favorite, I have so many favorite players to be honest. Like I said, James Hater was always one of my, Wade Elliott was just pure class because of the, you know, used to watch him just dribbling around player after player. Fletch obviously is a massive one for me and him scoring, you know, important goals. And I obviously got to walk out of the testimonial. So, and also Brian Stock as well, because I enjoyed his free kick. So I'll probably say, if I've got to go one, you've got to go Fletch. We love it here and that it will be loving it. It'll be listening, tuning in, especially for that. Best cruiserweight of all time? Evander Holyfield for me. He's just, he moved up to heavyweight as well, but he was just an absolute force and he could take a shot of that for sure. But he was just, I love watching his fights. He's got some epic battles and was definitely up there with the best cruiserweight of all time, if not the best. David Cordell wanted to know, would you rather win a world title or see the Cherries win the Premier League title? Oh, that's a tough one. That is a tough one. Yeah, that is a tough one. I'd have to, for selfish reasons, say myself, but watching the Cherries win a Premier League title would also be absolutely epic. A very, very close second. Jonathan Gokrodgers is asking, if you could fight any cruiserweight from any generation, who would it be? Stupidly, I'd probably say Evander Holyfield. But yeah, he was, like I said, he's one of my favourite fighters ever. He was such a tough opponent and the name and obviously what he went on to achieve at heavyweight as well. Yeah, he was just so excited. I think he's probably got a better tune than I have and probably put just harder than I have. So I wouldn't bet on me, but I would have loved to have shared the ring with Evander. Now, Alex from Eifford is asking, when will your merchandise be available to buy? It is, it is. Keith and I are on my Instagram. And I need to put it up on my Twitter as well. So yeah, thanks for the plug. Alex and I'll make sure he gets some merch online soon. And final question, it's quite a hard-hitting question, actually. Chris, you might want to think about this one. Ben from Bournemouth is asking, is it true you can down a large Domino's Pizza in under three minutes? I know exactly who that is. I know, that's my mate when I went on the picture. I guarantee it. I did it at his house once, right? We ordered the Domino's Pizza literally just over there. Like I said, the house we can see. I said to the lads, how quick do you think you can eat a Domino's in? And one of my mates said, eight minutes. I said, eight minutes. I said, that's ages. I said, I reckon I could do it under three. So obviously then I had to try it because the Domino's was on its way. And I did it in three minutes and 19 seconds. But the only reason I didn't do it under three is because I burnt my mouth. I had a blister on top of my mouth for about a week. That is one of the pitfalls of it, trying to eat a Domino's too quickly. By the way, how many Domino's mentions have been on this podcast in the last few weeks? They don't want to sponsor it by now. They should be. I just want to add in there that there are other pizza places available. Yes, particularly locally here in Bournemouth. If you're a local Bournemouth pizza restaurant, honestly, sponsor it and bring the pizzas in. Kenneth Tucknock, by the way, mentioned for you as well. You asked the question that we asked earlier on about Chris's hopes of being a boxer from earlier on in his life. And Chris, it would be remiss of us, finally, not to get your thoughts on this current season for AFC Bournemouth and whether you have a feeling that the Premier League dream is going to happen. Absolutely. I think, obviously, Woody's doing a great job now with the cup, not that Jason wasn't. But, yeah, I think they just seem as a fire in the belly from the lads. Swansea win was a massive, massive win. Swansea have been doing really well. Obviously, Barnsley are flying. So I think we've hit a few teams where they're on form and we've played them when they're really on absolute fire, like Barnsley. But Red didn't seem to be dropping down now. And if we can win the game in hand, get back into the playoffs, you know, it's very much in touch and distance. The lads are hitting some form. And obviously, Junie is back soon as well. And I think he's been one of the best players of the season. He's been, you know, not saying it's all because I'm coming on my podcast, but I'm going to take some credit for it because it seems to have hit some form after that. But, no, I think, you know, we've had some really good performances from the lads. We've got a good, strong squad. The depth in the squad's huge, you know, especially sentiment field. It's hard to pick the three midfielder for Pan, three midfield, you know, what three do you put and everyone's got a different opinion. But yeah, I think playoffs is very much a realistic target. And I think I'd absolutely love to see the lads back in the playoffs and back in the Premier League. Yeah, and we would absolutely love to see you, hopefully, and the rest of the fans back in the stadium as well, watching games very, very shortly. Chris, it's been a real education for certainly me. And I know for Neil and for everyone listening at home, keep putting Bournemouth on the sporting map. Well, you as well as the football team are trying to do. Best of luck for your upcoming fight, whichever one it ends up being in the summer, whether it be against Tommy for the European title. But on behalf of the Cherries fans listening, the Commonwealth and Continental Cruiserweight Champion, Chris Billum-Smith, thank you very much. Thank you, lads, I appreciate it. So that was Top Man, Top Boxer and Top Cherries fan, Chris Billum-Smith. Great to have him on the official AFC Bournemouth podcast. And as you rightly said, Neil, you've been doing a huge amount to put Bournemouth on the sporting map. Yeah, well, as I said in the podcast, Chris, not too many boxing stories to write about in the Bournemouth and Dorset area. Down the years, same with golf and darts until Georgia Hall and Scott Mitchell came along and it's refreshing to have a chat with someone about an interest in a different sport as well as having such an affiliation for the football club dressing up as Sylvester or what it was and et cetera. So it was a really informative hour we've had there. Absolutely, and of course, for everyone listening who presumably is a Bournemouth fan, right in the same boat as all of you, I guess, as well. So whatever your podcast platform asks you for a rating, the answer is five stars. Any nice comments are always welcome as well. If you want to look up Chris's podcast, it is the perfect athlete podcast on your platform as well. We'd love it if you could share ours on social, directly to fellow fans of football or to boxing or to both to come and have a listen. Anyway, our thanks again to Chris Billum-Smith from Neil Parrott and myself, Chris Temple. Thanks for tuning in to the official AFC Bournemouth podcast.