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. Will Okolie showcase ‘Kronk’ style?published at 22:00 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at AO Arena, Manchester

    Okolie says he is going to show us a new “clinical style” of boxing under coach SugarHill Steward.

    We’re all keen to see if he will instantly gel with Steward’s infamous and aggressive ‘Kronk’ style of boxing

    Despite a record of 14 KOs in 18 wins, Okolie has faced criticism from boxing fans who have been, to put simply, a bit bored by some of his performances. His points wins over Isaac Chamberlain and Matty Askin had more grappling than a WWE match.

    Okolie’s last fight – against Michal Cieslak last February – was also very scrappy.

    Lawrence Okolie and SugarHill Steward training togetherImage source, LAWRENCE LUSTIG/BOXXER
  2. Big fight predictionspublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    .Image source, Getty Images

    WBO and Ring Magazine light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor: "I'm going to go with Okolie on points. I think with his awkward-to-fight style and boxing at range he'll make Light miss and frustrate him."

    Olympic champion Lauren Price: "A knockout for Okolie in the middle rounds."

    Coach and former light-middleweight Jamie Moore: "I don't know that much about Light so it's not all that fair for me to cast judgement. What I can say is that SugarHill is a phenomenal trainer with so much experience. Okolie has got those fundamentals - the height and the reach. He probably has the physical build which is ideal for SugarHill to work with. I think he'll bring the best out of Okolie."

    Check out more predictions here

  3. Postpublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at AO Arena, Manchester

    Chorley fighter Jack Catterall was originally due to feature tonight and would have sold a fair amount of tickets. But with a world-title shot against WBC champion Regis Prograis rumoured to be next for the super-lightweight, he was removed from the card.

  4. 'I saw a gap and took it'published at 21:57 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Heavyweight Frazer Clarke on Sky Sports: "It was a good night for me.

    "I want to say thanks to Bogdan [Dinu] for saving the show. Sorry about his ribs but I hope you enjoy Manchester.

    "I knew I hurt him a few times but I was gutted that after I landed the body shots I got too close to come in on the other side. I was throwing from too far out sometimes but I saw a gap and I took it."

    On suffering a cut to the forehead: "I had a big job for Gucci, Versace and Calvin Klein modelling but that won't be happening.

    "Hopefully, I heal quickly.

    "We'll see what happens. If it can heal up I'd love to go on the show with Joshua Buatsi, Ben Whittaker and Lauren Price in May."

  5. Postpublished at 21:56 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    David Light is the underdog but he looks calm and cool backstage. He's not here for a wander around Manchester and a bit of shopping in the Arndale as he confidently declares he is here to "knock Lawrence Okolie out".

  6. Postpublished at 21:55 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    That is it then for the undercard which means we are counting down the minutes to main event.

    The Proclaimers' 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)' has just been played around the arena to get the crowd going and it did the job. Now we are back to some old school 90s dance tunes, always a solid option.

  7. Big who?published at 21:50 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at AO Arena, Manchester

    The last time I was in this arena was for Liam Smith v Chris Eubank Jr. As you might expect, there is definitely less of an atmosphere here tonight.

    The top tier of the arena is closed but the Manchester fans do tend to make their voices heard. As for celeb spotting, there was a huge cheer when rapper Big Zuu took to his seat. Disclaimer: I had to Google him. Which says more about me being out of touch than his level of fame.

  8. Born To Brawl: The Hamedspublished at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Media caption,

    Prince Naseem Hamed's sons are coming for his throne

    Aadam and Sami Hamed - whose father is former world champion Prince Naseem Hamed - are turning professional.

    This episode of Born To Brawl documents their journey to this point, including guidance from their dad, and support from the McCracken family and rapper Jaykae.

    Watch above.

  9. Brook and Smith having a chinwagpublished at 21:47 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at AO Arena, Manchester

    Former world champion Kell Brook is in the building. He was deep in conversation with Liam Smith, who beat Chris Eubank Jr in January.

    Could they have be plotting a match-up at some point?

    Brook retired after his fight with Kell Brook last year, but has teased a comeback in recent weeks.

  10. Clarke remains undefeated as injured Dinu retirespublished at 21:46 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Frazer Clarke's fight is over already!

    Bogdan Dinu, a late replacement opponent, retired at the end of the second round because of a broken rib sustained by a punch from Clarke.

    That means Clarke remains undefeated with a record of 6-0.

    .Image source, Reuters
  11. 'Okolie inside two'published at 21:45 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Steve Bunce
    BBC Radio 5 Live pundit

    It needs to be a new-look Lawrence Okolie because SugarHill demands that.

    The old Okolie would win comfortably, stopping Light in rounds eight or nine. The new Okolie might do it in a couple. I'm going Okolie inside two.

  12. The acrimonious splitpublished at 21:43 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at AO Arena, Manchester

    Lawrence Okolie’s split from Matchroom Boxing was protracted, complicated and acrimonious. And the war of words between the champion and Eddie Hearn continued this past week.

    After his win over Poland’s Michael Cieslak last year, Okolie argued he was no longer contracted to Matchroom and wished to join Boxxer. Matchroom said he had one fight left.

    Okolie says he never felt celebrated by Hearn. Speaking to Talksport earlier in the week, he described Hearn as "malicious, jealous, bitter and vindictive".

    Hearn responded by saying he led Okolie to a world title, headlining arenas and fighting on the biggest stage.

    Lawrence Okolie and Eddie Hearn stand togetherImage source, Getty Images
  13. Light 'here to win'published at 21:40 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    David Light has won all 20 of his fights but two of those bouts have taken place in America and the others all in his native New Zealand.

    Light is Okolie's mandatory challenger and insists he can beat the Briton.

    "I'm not here on somebody's else's terms, I've earned the shot," he said.

    "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."

  14. Simpson shines on Boxxer debutpublished at 21:37 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at AO Arena, Manchester

    Callum Simpson, remember the name.

    Promoter Ben Shalom is expecting big things from Boxxer's new signing. Going from tonight's performance, you can see why.

    The British super-middleweight - who recently sparred unified light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev - looked sensational in Portugal's Celso Neves in the third round.

    Callum Simpson Celso NevesImage source, LAWRENCE LUSTIG/BOXXER
  15. Artingstall wins on pointspublished at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    .Image source, PA Media

    Earlier another British Olympian, Karriss Artingstall - who also won boxing bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics - beat Linzi Buczynskyj on points in their super featherweight bout.

    It moves the Macclesfield-born boxer onto 3-0 in her professional career.

    "Buczynskyj came with the ambition, she had a good go as well and it wasn't a pushover fight," Artingstall told Sky Sports.

    "I had to put the effort in and she always gave me something to think about."

  16. Clarke in the ringpublished at 21:35 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    We're onto the chief support fight as British Olympian Frazer Clarke takes on Bogdan Dinu in an eight-round heavyweight clash.

    Clarke won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

  17. Listen to the action livepublished at 21:32 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    You can listen to live commentary on tonight's fight on BBC Radio 5 live from 22:00 GMT.

    Tune in!

  18. A new start for Okolie?published at 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    Kal Sajad
    BBC Sport at AO Arena, Manchester

    Good evening and welcome to Manchester!

    Lawrence Okolie made his professional debut exactly six years ago today, in this very arena.

    A lot has changed for Okolie over the last year. He has swapped trainer Shane Mcguigan for SugarHill Steward, left his management company, 258 MGT, and is now promoted by Boxxer and not Matchroom.

    With a new team behind him, will we see a new Okolie?

  19. Out with the old and in with the newpublished at 21:29 Greenwich Mean Time 25 March 2023

    .Image source, Reuters

    Lawrence Okolie is back in the ring tonight as he makes the third defence of his WBO cruiserweight belt, this time against David Light.

    But it could well be a new look Okolie we see this time with a lot having changed behind the scenes for the British boxer.

    So will Okolie 2.0 kick off his fresh start with a win?