Summary

  • Lawrence Okolie retains his WBO cruiserweight world title at London's O2 Arena

  • Undefeated Briton beats Poland's Michal Cieslak by unanimous decision

  • Judges score the bout 117-110, 116-111, 115-112

  • Okolie, 29, puts Cieslak down in fifth round but Pole goes the distance

  • Olympic champion Galal Yafai wins on professional debut at flyweight

  • Fellow Olympian Cheavon Clarke wins with second-round KO on his pro debut

  • Campbell Hatton, son of Ricky Hatton, wins his sixth professional fight

  1. Round 8published at 21:43 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    It has been a messy, ungainly fight at times with lots of holding and round eight is no different.

    Okolie keeps trying with that right but his accuracy is left wanting.

    Scrappy.

  2. 'Okolie doing enough'published at 21:41 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Round 7

    Steve Bunce
    Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Every round is hard and messy but he's learning every round and winning every round. He's been in dirty fights before but not hard fights. He's doing enough but is still getting caught and tangled up too much for my liking.

    Cieslak holds OkolieImage source, Getty Images
  3. Round 7published at 21:41 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    Big moment for Cieslak as he catches Okolie on the side of the head and he senses an opportunity to go in aggressively.

    Okolie steps off, trying to manage the distance but Cieslak again goes in close as he tries to get another left hand through. Better round from Cieslak.

  4. Postpublished at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Ronald McIntosh
    Boxing commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The atmosphere sounds like a football match in here. Cieslak is receiving good support from his compatriots in the arena. Can he take inspiration from them?

  5. 'Another round for Okolie'published at 21:37 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Round 6

    George Groves
    Former super-middleweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I give the round to Okolie - he hasn't dropped one yet. It was scrappy but if he keeps Cieslak at that long range and controls the pace he will have the time to get his right hand off.

  6. Round 6published at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    Okolie is using his long reach to good effect and he's looking to land another big right hand that he will hope will end Cieslak's resistance.

    A couple of swings whistle just wide of the target, Okolie then goes for the body as the Polish fans once again try to motivate their fighter.

    Cieslak manages to get through the round without taking any big hits and a decent recovery after being floored in round five.

  7. Postpublished at 21:33 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Steve Bunce
    Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Okolie is still learning. Forget he's 29, he's a raw kid.

  8. 'Couldn't quite follow up'published at 21:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Round 5

    George Groves
    Former super-middleweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Okolie is starting to find his range but it wasn't quite perfect because he couldn't quite follow up on the knockdown. Cieslak seemed to recover quite well after the count.

    Okolie attacksImage source, Getty Images
  9. Round 5 - Cieslak goes downpublished at 21:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    Big round for Lawrence Okolie!

    He starts on the front foot, goes in with the jab, steps back to draw Cieslak in and then connects with the right hand.

    Moments later Cieslak is floored by a huge one-two! Another right hand towards the end of the round and Cieslak's legs buckle but he makes it to the bell.

  10. 'Jam hard into the chest'published at 21:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Round 4

    George Groves
    Former super-middleweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    His trainer Shane McGuigan was telling Okolie to jam into Cieslak's chest hard and straighten the right hand to get there quicker.

  11. Round 4published at 21:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    Cieslak is growing into this fight now and has arguably his best round so far as he connects with a couple of jabs to the body.

    Okolie is looking to find the range. He connects with a jab but then overshoots his attempt with his right hand.

    The Polish fans greet the bell with a roar, they were loving that round.

  12. 'Okolie needs to fight at his pace'published at 21:25 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Round 3

    Steve Bunce
    Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Okolie has to fight at his pace and relax a bit, find his jab and then drop his right hand in. A 12-round grappling match is Cieslak's game.

    Okolie and CieslakImage source, Getty Images
  13. Round 3published at 21:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    Cieslak hasn't offered too much offensively but a good left hook gets through early in round three.

    Okolie lands a jab to the body but Cieslak has seemingly recovered from that strong hit he took in round one and becomes more and more aggressive as the round goes on.

    Okolie looks concerned by the potential for his opponent's counter and is a little hesitant with a couple of his punches towards the end of the round.

  14. 'Best shot from Okolie'published at 21:20 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Round 2

    George Groves
    Former super-middleweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Another round with a lot of grappling and these are two strong men and I wonder who will cope with this better? The best shot was a right hand to the stomach from long range by Okolie.

  15. Round 2published at 21:20 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    Cieslak's name is loudly chanted once again as the Polish fans look to try and pick up their man after that early blow in round one.

    Okolie mixes things up by going for the body with a jab, mixing things up to try and open up another opportunity for that devastating right hand.

    Cieslak is reading things well and preventing Okolie from getting the distance needed to generate the power for another of those devastating blows.

  16. 'Okolie's big shot landed'published at 21:16 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Round 1

    George Groves
    Former super-middleweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    That's what Okolie is famous for - a big right hand. It's been a bit of a ragged first round, with a lot of holding, but that big shot landed. Fascinating round.

  17. Round 1published at 21:16 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    Well somehow Michal Cieslak is still standing by the end of the round. It looked like Lawrence Okolie was primed to finish him off but Cieslak stays on his feet.

  18. Round 1published at 21:14 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    Wow!

    A huge right hand slams against Michal Cieslak's right cheek and it is a thunderous start by the home fighter.

    The Polish fans, so loud for the first few seconds, are momentarily silenced.

  19. Round 1published at 21:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Lawrence Okolie v Michal Cieslak

    The first round is under way!

  20. Postpublished at 21:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2022

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at O2 Arena

    Wow! There may only be around 6,000 fans but boy are they making themselves heard. There is a huge Polish support here for Cieslak.