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Okolie has left Eddie and DAZN saying they were bullying him into taking fights he did not want.
Good to see him back and hopefully being active.
Cruiserweight world champion Lawrence Okolie will face New Zealander David Light on 25 March at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Okolie, 30, will defend his WBO title for the third time in his first fight since February 2022.
The Hackney fighter is unbeaten in 18 pro fights and competes for the first time under Boxxer's promotional banner after leaving Matchroom.
Light, 31, is the mandatory challenger to Okolie's WBO belt.
The Commonwealth silver medallist is unbeaten in 20 fights but has fought the majority of his pro career in New Zealand.
Heavyweight Frazer Clarke, Olympian Karriss Artingstall and light-welterweight Jack Catterall will feature on the undercard in Manchester.
Catterall is expected to compete in a tune-up bout after his world title fight against Josh Taylor in March fell through due to an injury to the Scot.
Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Clarke faces American Rydell Booker as he looks to improve his 5-0 record.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/64572826
I'm biased but I think Light has a great chance to win this fight
BRITISH cruiserweights Lawrence Okolie and Richard Riakphore almost came to blows at the Creed III premiere.
The pair were two of several big names to hit the red carpet at Cineworld Leicester Square on Wednesday night for the early screening of the Hollywood movie.
But they almost gave attendees a real fight to watch after clashing at the snack stand at the concourse.
A fired-up Riakphore twice lunged at the WBO cruiserweight champion as he was being held back by a mystery man.
Okolie, who was holding his jacket in one hand, managed to frame off the advancing Riakphore and create space.
Boxing pundit and podcaster Spencer Fearon ended up keeping the peace, holding Okolie back from his fellow Brit.
He shouted: "Stop, stop, stop! Stop this. Not here, man."
The pair's clash comes just under a week after the pair did a joint interview, in which they were both cordial when talking about the prospect of facing one another.
When pressed on the fight, Okolie told Sky Sports: "Don't say my name 'til you actually want to fight.
"It's as easy as this. I will fight that man any time. Any time.
"Then it's done. You've got a world champion who doesn't need to - Richard's not my mandatory.
"But, he's in my country saying he's the best? See you soon."
The pair's promoter, BOXXER's Ben Shalom, is open to making the fight later this year, telling talkSPORT: “[Riakporhe] is going to fight for a world title.
"He’s going to fight Lawrence Okolie in one of the biggest fights, not just in this country, but in the world cruiserweight division.
“They both want to move up to heavyweight. It’s a massive year.
"I think we’re going to watch Lawrence Okolie go and unify and win more world titles.
“I think we’re going to see Richard Riakporhe win his first world title and then I think we’re going to see them meet at the end of the year.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21404...reed-premiere/
Okolie needs to worry about Light
He better not take the commonwealth silver medalist....lightly.......
Commonwealth boxing medals are pretty good to be fair. Obviously Olympics is better but the Commonwealth boxing is a good standard.
LAWRENCE OKOLIE will defend his WBO cruiserweight title against David Light at the AO Arena in Manchester.
The Sauce most recently defended his title against Michal Cieslak back in February 2022.
The Hackney-born boxer defeated Cieslak by unanimous decision.
This will be the third time Okolie will be defending his WBO cruiserweight belt.
David Light will be a tough test for the current champion, as the 31-year-old is currently undefeated with an impressive 20-0-0 record.
Lawrence Okolie vs David Light will take place on Saturday, March 25.
The ring walks for the main event are expected to begin at approximately 10pm UK time.
AO Arena in Manchester will be the venue.
Main event: Lawrence Okolie vs David Light
Frazer Clarke vs Rydell Booker
Karriss Artingstall vs Linzi Buczynskyj
Michael Gomez Jnr vs Levi Giles
Rhys Edwards vs Brian Phillips
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21624...ndercard-odds/
Lawrence Okolie has promised to teach ‘delusional’ David Light a lesson — after lessons of his own from Tyson Fury.
The 30-year-old WBO cruiserweight champion sparred with WBC heavyweight champion Fury as recently as Friday. And he can’t wait to try to lure Light into the same kind of traps the Gypsy King sets for his opponents. Okolie said: “I did a little move-around with Tyson on Friday, nothing that crazy, just a little body spar. But it’s good to see with one of the biggest heavyweights what that is like. With Tyson, it’s very much like he’s constantly thinking. He knows how to use his height, reach and weight all in different parts of the ring.
"I won’t go into the intricacies but you can feel it and he’s good enough to talk me through what he is doing. It’s like he says, ‘I’ve got you here’, and I’m thinking, ‘Oh, this doesn’t feel nice. Okay, I’m going to try that’. He’s very technically sound. I’m not talking about throwing a one-two correctly, it’s about tactically and positionally in terms of actually winning a boxing match, he has all these skills and they show.”
Okolie takes on Kiwi challenger Light on Boxxer’s show in Manchester on Saturday. He added: “He’s 20-0 so he’ll obviously be coming with that confidence and belief. But it’s almost delusion, actually, from him and his camp, some of the stuff they have been saying. That lets me know their mindset and sometimes deluded people can cause problems because they don’t understand how things are supposed to go, so you have to teach them. He’s a grown man and he has been boxing for a long time, but they say stuff that to me sounds so stupid, like ‘No one has tried [this or that against Okolie]’.
“It’s like, people have tried before him knowing this is their world title shot. For the last four years plus every fight has meant something to the other person as well as me, they’ve come to win because they know it could be life changing. But then when they come and stand in front of me they realise it’s not their time, so I have to teach David it’s not his.”
Okolie wants two or three fights this year and wants to add to his belt collection before making his long-planned jump up to heavyweight. He said: “I would really like to unify the cruiserweight division before I step up but it really depends on Friday where I am with the weight. Once I have made the weight for this fight I will let people know. If I feel anything other than amazing on Saturday it will be time to move on, but I don’t envision that being the case with this fight. As soon as it becomes too much of a drag, if I have to diet for too long or I have to sweat it out for too long, it’s boring, I don’t like that side of boxing, I like the fighting so I’ll move on.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...9c0cc732&ei=43
I guess I'm the only one here giving Light a chance? :LOLATYOU:
No harm in predicting your own boy. We all do it and sometimes it comes off which gives you a great feeling. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Big J
The unbeaten New Zealander is adamant he can upset Okolie this weekend.
"I'm coming to win. I know he's a proud man and he's going to defend with everything he's got," he continued. "I'm not reinventing the wheel.
"You've got to punch the other person more than they punch you. I've done the work."
It's the work that Okolie is looking forward to.
"He's coming to win," the champion said of his challenger. "It sets you up for a lot of openings."
But he cautioned: "You don't get to this position overlooking people ever.
"It's a nice safe place to hide behind being the underdog," Okolie continued. "When I see him I know what he really is. I'm prepared for what he may bring and will do what I need to do.
"I am going to be from round one matching him and overmatching him for pressure and power.
"Saturday's going to come. One of us is going to win and the other one's going to become irrelevant.
"So I'm looking for to it."
On the undercard Michael Gomez Jr, the son of hugely popular local fighter Michael Gomez, will fight Levi Giles for the English super-featherweight title.
But as soon as they came face to face on Thursday Gomez Jr sounded raring to get started early.
"I'll punch you up now," Gomez told Giles directly.
"I don't know anything about him," he added with equal belligerence. "Saturday night we'll find out who he is."
Giles remained calm as he faced his opponent. "I do my talking in the ring," he said levelly. "It's a good test for me, see where I'm at.
"We know what he brings. Forward, one dimensional," he added. "We know what he's going to bring and we know how to deal with it."
Gomez shrugged that off. His tactics, he promised, would be more simple. "I'm just going to punch his face in," he said. "I'm just going to go in there, stick it on him and see how good he is."
Olympic bronze medallist Karriss Artingstall was perfectly confident as she went head to head with her opponent Linzi Buczynskyj.
"Her throwing her shots is going to leave more openings for me so I'm going to find my shots as well," Artingstall warned.
"I just wanted the opportunity to show everyone on a big stage what I can actually do," Buczynskyj insisted. "I'm not scared to take any fight. I'll fight anyone at anytime at any stage.
"I have got the experience," she added. "She's the one that's got everything to prove."
But Artingstall promised: "I am a level above you, two levels if anything and I'll show that on Saturday."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/boxi...b5df2291&ei=84
Kell Brook being interviewed, Sky hyping him up to fight again.
Levi Giles outboxing Gomez easily at the moment.
Gomez wins the fight by close decision.
Terrible MC. Frazer Clarke did well but that cut will surely see him miss his next one.
Here to support
Okolie throwing wild right hands in the first round to win it but holding when they get close to tire Light.
Untidy second round but Okolie keeping Light away with the right hands. Still pawing with the jab.
2 nil
One Two
One Two
Light closing the distance better in the third round and landing more shots but not enough to win the round.
3 nil
Light might have taken the 3rd
Atmosphere is poor and Okolie looks uncomfortable in the ring. Light not getting any success.
4 nil
Okolie getting into a better rythem in the fifth round but honestly not looking great.
5 nil
Okolie should try the uppercut as Light would get hurt in the 6th. Better right hands landing.
6 nil
I've given Light the 3rd & 4th through 6
Okolie landing some low blows in the seventh round trying to go for the body of Light.
Ref telling both off for the poor and untidy contest.
7 nil
I do not see how but no harm in supporting your fighter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Big J
I've got it even after 8 :o
This is a poor contest but Light can not hit Okolie. Very untidy fight.
I have stopped scoring it is all Okolie and Light needs a stoppage to win.Quote:
Originally Posted by Big J
Okolie winning easy.
Feels flat this after watching Cain vs Baluta.
A bit Mehh
Okolie hurts Light with hard brutal right hands in the tenth round.
david's lost almost every round & was hurt in the tenth
Okolie loses a point for rough tactics in the 11th but nearly stops Light with a brutal barrage of right hands. He has a tough chin.
Crowd not happy but Okolie should get a UD.
I have it 114-113 Okolie
the judges give it to lawrence by at least four points
Light showed his chin
He can be proud of that performance
On BT sport's Heaney starts very fast against Flatley and nearly punches himself out in the first round.