News about Lawrence Okolie

Exclusive INTERVIEW BY SAM BROOKES: Lawrence Okolie had just completed his third appearance in his WBO cruiserweight crown against Canada's David Light, and a unification contest seemed to be the next logical step. Rather, he went down a different route by defending his title against former stablemate and domestic rival Chris Billam-Smith only nine weeks later, and it did not go as expected. Bournemouth, Okolie, Billam-Smith's hometown, was never looked at the races and was disqualified three times for standing on his own.

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OLI GAMP: The current WBO cruiserweight world champion gets a jump on our zoom call after only laying his infant baby down to sleep. It's a reality check that means he hasn't had much time to consider achieving a childhood dream three months ago. Chris Billam-Smith stunned Lawrence Okolie on May 27 to lift a world championship belt in Bournemouth, where he plays, after crashing his opponent three times to become a local hero. It was simply the most amazing night - and one in which he knows he will never reach the top as long as he boxes. However, there are challenges ahead, including unifying the two factions, fighting in Vegas, and possibly even fighting at heavyweight one day.

BY SAM BROOKES: AXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Chris Billam-Smith reveals what it's like to be on both highs and lows when it comes to boxing. Billam-Smith is riding the wave just weeks after defeating former stablemate Lawrence Okolie to fulfill his ambition of becoming a world champion. However, it hasn't always been like this. In fact, his climb to the top may have occurred well before it began.

On Saturday, former WBO cruiserweight champion Krzysztof got off to a tumultuous start to his MMA career at KSW Colosseum 2 in Krakow. When Tolkaczewski feared a prompt takedown, Glowacksi's debut inside the cage against 1-0 fighter Patryk Tolkaczewski found his primary weapons almost nullified. As his opponent passed his guard into the mounted position and began raining down strikes, the 36-year-old's lack of grappling training seemed to have been his downfall.

CHARLOTTE IS A CHARLOTTE DALY AT THE VITALITY: Lawrence Okolie knew Lawrence Okolie would play mind games ahead of their world championship match in Bournemouth, so they took extra measures to prevent the Sauce from having an unfair advantage. Billam-Smith, who shocked the world by defeating Okolie by majority vote to win the WBO cruiserweight world championship in front of 15,000 fans at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, has been left waiting in the ring for a lengthy period of time. Billam-Smith started his ring walk first as the challenger going into the fight. However, the Bournemouth boy was left waiting in the ring as Okolie refused to leave the dressing room on time.

On Saturday night, Chris Billam-Smith knocked Lawrence Okolie down three times on his way to become the world cruiserweight champion, and dedicated the victory to his mother, who is fighting breast cancer. Billam-Smith shook up the 200lbs division at his hometown, AFC Bournemouth, with a dramatic win over his former stablemate, earning him the WBO cruiserweight title as a result. The competition was often frustrating, with Okolie being fined points for excessive holding on two occasions, but his championship defense began to unravel in the fourth round. The Hackney man was sent tumbling to the canvas for the first time in his career after Billam-Smith fired with the same gun, setting the tone for the remainder of the fight.

Lawrence Okolie performed spectacular cruiserweight wrestling against Chris Billam-Smith at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening as the younger fighter put on a convincing display. The Sauce was trying to protect his belt against a local competitor who was well-funded, but it didn't appear to be able to cause much commotion going into the match.

'Exclusive INTERVIEW BY CHARLOTTE DALY Lawrence Okolie says Richard Riakporhe has never been on his level and that the 33-year-old cruiserweight' has never done anything worth telling anyone about.' After going head-to-head at London's Creed III premiere, both Okolie and Riakporhe are known for having blood and they had to be separated.

Lawrence Okolie defends his cruiserweight world title against Chris Billam-Smith, according to Mail Sport's live blog. Also complete undercard coverage.

Exclusive INTERVIEW BY OLIVER SALT. Chris Billam-Smith, who is closing in on a date of destiny at his beloved AFC Bournemouth's home, is determined not to let the opportunity of a lifetime pass him by. It's the best thing in the world.' 'It's always been my goal to win a world championship at Vitality,' he tells Mail Sport ahead of his world cruiserweight title shot this weekend. Just to box: The fact that we have the opportunity to win a world championship has prompted us to do so, I'll be grabbing it with both hands.' 'It's certainly feels like everything's fallen into place as expected, even the enemy.'

Lawrence Okolie admits to being in the worst shape of his life for the last month's confrontation with David Light, but he insists he's 'feeling alert, strong, and focused' ahead of his battle with Chris Billam-Smith.

Local entrepreneur and philanthropist Joseph Ashford-Ellis has been encouraged by Harry Redknapp to subsidise the final 500 tickets for this weekend's historic cruiserweight world championship match featuring Chris Billam-Smith at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium. Billam-Smith has also backed him up against Lawrence Okolie in their highly awaited match on Saturday evening.

Chris Billam-Smith is a "strong guy," Lawrence Okolie admits, but claims the 32-year-old can withstand before giving up on Saturday night. When Okolie takes on Billam-Smith, his British and former sparring partner, on May 27, he will aim for his fourth straight victory in WBO world cruiserweight class. The fight comes as a quick turnaround for Okolie, who defeated New Zealand's David Light on a unanimous points decision in Manchester on March 25, extending his unbeaten streak to 19 fights.

Lawrence Okolie will face fellow Briton and former sparring partner Chris Billam-Smith at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium on May 27 for his fourth straight defense of his WBO world cruiserweight title. The fight comes on a fast turnaround for Okolie, who defeated New Zealand's David Light on a unanimous points decision in Manchester on March 25, extending his unbeaten streak to 19 fights since defeating Michal Cieslak on points in February 2022. I'm pumped, and I'm excited to go,' Okolie said. "I've just come off a sanity defence where I defeated all 12 rounds against an unknown but tough opponent, a national champion in his homeland.'

John Fury has said that his son Tyson should'sack' trainer SugarHill Steward for his remarks last week, claiming that the Gypsy King's coach is only interested in 'pound signs.' Tyson began working with Sugar, the uncle of legendary coach Emanuel, in 2020, ahead of his second match against Deontay Wilder, and the pair have had a lot of success together. However, John was outraged by Sugar's remarks, insisting he was focusing on Lawrence Okolie's cruiserweight title defense against David Light at the AO Arena in Manchester rather than Tyson's potential confrontation with Oleksandr Usyk.

Welcome back to the Soul of Sport. In the fifth episode of the series, KEVIN QUIGLEY travelled to Manchester to watch Lawrence Okolie successfully defend his WBO cruiserweight world title against David Light at the AO Arena on Saturday. A night of boxing action ensued at a packed house, with fellow Brits Frazer Clarke and Frankie Stringer among those to perform. In several behind-the-scenes photos from warm-ups, fight time, and the aftermath, there was a lot of excitement, anguish, and elation as the often brutal reality of life as a professional boxer was captured on film. To capture the scene, our man used a Nikon Z9 camera and 24-70mm, 14-24mm, and 400 meters lenses.

After a difficult 12 rounds for both fighters at the AO Arena, the judges had it 116-112, 119-108, 117-110. Okolie hadn't fought since February, and it did demonstrate at times as the Brit seemed a little slow in extending his right hand and didn't fully take power until the last few rounds. Light, in truth, was not a threat to the world champion, but he did have a spectacular chin when Okokie started to click into gear in the later rounds, but the Sauce landed three big right hands to the chin in a row at the start of the tenth and Light's legs did buckle for a second, but he did not recover quickly in the round.

At the AO Arena in Manchester, follow Sportsmail's live blog for Lawrence Okolie and David Light's cruiserweight world championship match.

Lawrence Okolie defends his WBO cruiserweight belt against David Light in his first fight since joining BOXX and parting with Eddie Hearn. Hearn described him as'malicious, cynical, bitter, and vindictive' in the build-up to his third world championship defense as their horrific war of words continued into fight week. Okolie (18-0) is also trying to make a splash in his first fight with new coach SugarHill Steward, who also mentors Tyson Fury, after losing former cornerman Shane McGuigan.

In December, the cruiserweight revealed that he would leave Matchroom for Boxxer promotions, citing "narcissistic people" who "run" the game for lessening his passion for boxing. With his fight against David Light in Manchester on Saturday night looming, Okolie conducted an interview with TalkSport in which he outlined his issues with former promoter Hearn, that, he claims, led to their split

Lawrence Okolie and Richard Riakporhe were unable to recover after almost falling apart on Wednesday night. The pair were in town for Creed III's premiere in London, but there were scenes from a true life Rocky film when they clashed outside the foyer area outside the theater. Riakporhe was seen punching Okolie backwards and both men seemed to be about to break up the brawl even as it got underway, with stunned customers on the scene.

Lawrence Okolie will defend his WBO cruiserweight world championship against New Zealand star David Light in March. Okolie last fought in February, winning a unanimous decision over Michal Cieslak to keep his WBO belt for the second time, but he hasn't fought since. It will also be the first time the British boxer has stepped foot in the ring after parting with promoter Eddie Hearn in December last year.

Currently BY CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE, Inc. Richard Riakporhe (main and inset) spent Christmas day on his own and trained in Baltic weather while preparing for Chris Eubank Jr.'s fight with Liam Smith on the undercard. Riakporhe, who is undefeated with a record of 15 wins, zero losses, and zero draws, is confident he will defeat the Polish boxer if they step into the ring together on January 21 against stable mate Lawrence Okolie.