Summary

  • Lawrence Okolie successfully defends his WBO cruiserweight world title against David Light

  • Judges score it 116-112, 119-108, 117-110 in Okolie's favour

  • London fighter Okolie extends record to 19 fights and 19 wins

  • Okolie toiled in first half of fight but landed big shots in the final three rounds for a clear win

  • Olympian Frazer Clarke beat Bogdan Dinu in heavyweight contest on undercard

  1. Round Eightpublished at 22:51 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    A lot of holding again. Okolie catches Light with a right hand to the body but he's becoming far too predictable with his shots.

    Light hasn't had many successes himself so far in this fight but does land a couple of reasonable shots in this round.

    Lawrence Okolie throws an uppercutImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'Okolie doesn't have a plan'published at 22:48 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Barry Jones
    Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

    Lawrence has been in these fights before and has taken criticism for it.

    David Light is showing he's physically tough. He hasn't been wobbled but he is a hittable target.

    It looks like Okolie doesn't have a plan.

  3. Round Sevenpublished at 22:46 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Okolie is warned early in round seven about keeping the punches up.

    The defending champion then connects with a decent right hand to the body and attempts an uppercut before the referee has a word as the two grapple one too many times in another scrappy round.

    Light complains about another low blow by Okolie before the end of round seven.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:46 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Tweet #bbcboxing, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Pete The Wicker Man: "I just heard someone open a bag of crisps."

    Adrian Richards: "I’ve heard more noise at a silent disco."

  5. 'More needed from Okolie'published at 22:44 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Josh Taylor
    WBO light-welterweight champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Okolie is totally in control of the fight but I'd like to see him go to work a bit more.

    He needs to put his punches together and step on with that right hand.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:44 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Tweet #bbcboxing, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Highfield Boxing: "Because Lawrence has such an easy time on the retreat, he can win rounds at ease. I’d like to see him believe in his chin and go after Light. Really impose himself."

  7. Postpublished at 22:44 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at AO Arena, Manchester

    The Manchester crowd has quietened down a fair bit. There are some fans glancing at their phones.

    Comfortable for Okolie but nothing spectacular.

  8. Round Sixpublished at 22:42 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    A strange end to the round as both walk back to their corners before the bell has sounded.

    It has been far from a classic and there's been little to get the crowd going so far, with the sixth another scrappy round.

    David Light winces under the weight of a punch from Lawrence OkolieImage source, PA Media
  9. Round Fivepublished at 22:38 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Okolie is winning the rounds but it has not been particularly convincingly.

    A right hander bounces off Light, who doesn't flinch when a jab then gets through to the body but Okolie does finish the round well as he finally varies his shots and a strong left hook finds its target well.

  10. Round Fourpublished at 22:35 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Okolie glances Light with a decent right hander but then connects well with a punch to the body - he hasn't done enough of that so far, however.

    Light's corner will be happy with how things are going as we head into the fifth round.

    Lawrence Okolie aims a hook at David LightImage source, Getty Images
  11. 'Light growing in confidence'published at 22:31 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Barry Jones
    Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

    I thought that was a wasted round for Lawrence Okolie. He didn't follow up on the good work from the second round and allowed David Light to grow in confidence.

  12. Round Fourpublished at 22:31 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Okolie is controlling things but Light's confidence is growing.

    Onto round four.

  13. Round Threepublished at 22:30 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Okolie is encouraged to keep going for that right hander to the body by SugarHill Steward in the corner.

    Light, though, is doing a good job of closing the distance and Okolie is not able to throw any telling punches in a quiet round.

    David Light and Lawrence Okolie both throw straight punches that missImage source, Getty Images
  14. 'Okolie needs to relax'published at 22:28 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Josh Taylor
    WBO light-welterweight champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Okolie landed a great right hand to end the round.

    Sometimes he's trying a bit too hard, he needs to relax a bit.

    He's really throwing everything into that right hand and he needs to ease off.

  15. Round Threepublished at 22:27 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Into third of 12 scheduled rounds.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:26 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Tweet #bbcboxing, text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply) or WhatsApp 03301231826

    Kieran Gallop: "A typically scrappy start to a Lawrence Okolie fight."

    Jack: "I’ve never seen someone so flat footed & no head movement with a record of 20-0."

  17. Round Twopublished at 22:26 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Light keeps trying to maintain the distance but can't prevent Okolie from connecting with another right hander to the body.

    Light has been largely cautious but throws a few more punches in this round, although none really finding their target with any real force.

    A solid one-two by Okolie gets through before the bell. He's finding his range.

    Lawrence Okolie punches David LightImage source, Reuters
  18. 'Okolie using range'published at 22:23 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Barry Jones
    Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

    Okolie got behind the long jab and used his reach and height advantage.

    He keeps looping his right hand over the top but he'd be better off straightening that up.

  19. Round Twopublished at 22:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Okay then, on we go with round two.

  20. Round Onepublished at 22:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Okolie v Light

    Another nice long right hand by Okolie into the body but it is scrappy round with a few bits of grappling.

    David Light evades a punch from Lawrence OkolieImage source, PA Media