British boxer Lawrence Okolie passed his most significant test at heavyweight on Saturday night, comfortably outpointing Kevin Lerena over 10 rounds – though it was a performance unlikely to send shockwaves through the division.
The former WBO cruiserweight champion extended his record to 22-1 (16 KOs) with a unanimous decision win (100-90 x2, 99-91) in a bout where his physical advantages – height, reach, and weight – did the bulk of the work.
But in front of a 60 000-strong crowd at Wembley Stadium, the fight failed to catch fire.
Safety over spectacle
Okolie, now campaigning at heavyweight and ranked No 1 by the WBC, looked composed and effective but uninspired.
He controlled the range with a stiff jab and peppered Lerena’s midsection with long right hands, but rarely stepped into top gear.
The South African southpaw, known for dropping Daniel Dubois three times in a previous clash, struggled to close the distance and land anything meaningful.
He had a brief moment of success in round six with a left hook, but for most of the night, he was kept on the outside and smothered whenever he got close.
Even Okolie seemed aware of the slow tempo.
In round nine, he glanced at the big screen during a clinch, checking the clock.
Lerena tried to provoke a firefight in the 10th by pointing to the canvas and calling for a toe-to-toe exchange – but Okolie declined, opting for safety over spectacle.
What the win means
Okolie’s clean sweep on the scorecards reinforces his position among the next tier of heavyweight contenders under the Queensberry banner, but the lack of aggression or ambition in this performance may leave fans and potential opponents unimpressed.
Despite being heavier than during his cruiserweight title run – up by around 60 pounds – Okolie still moved well.
However, his punch volume and risk-taking remain issues, particularly if he hopes to challenge elite heavyweights like Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.
The 31-year-old had previously been scheduled to face Richard Riakporhe in April but withdrew due to injury.
That fight, now delayed, still looms as a potential domestic blockbuster.
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