Round-by-Round: Lawrence Okolie vs. Michal Cieslak - 27 February 2022

[KiwiRider]

118-109 LO.

That was a bad good fight.

Good card though, Skankie
I really enjoyed 3 fights, bloody miracle these days

[maverick23]

Closer scorecards than they should have been for me. Perhaps the judges were thinking of the robbery last night.

[milpool]

It must be the Polish fans with the boos. No doubt about the winner.

[Fightnight Scores]

Not seen it tonight....has Okolie reverted back to his 3 year ago self?

[Ruthless-RKO]

119-108 for me too..

That 116-111 was close

[handsofstone]

118-111 Okolie, terrible fight, like the Okolie of old, too much holding and spoiling, Cieslak equally as guilty, both men quick to hold bit no intention of fighting clean up close, just constantly grappling and holding and hitting, loads of rabbit punches especially from Cieslak, the ref was pretty poor again here

Okolie's best shot was clearly the right hand but it was poor he never threw it nearly enough, had it cocked plenty but too reluctant to throw it, nearly had Cieslak down from one in the 1st then had him down in the 5th with the shot but although he landed a few more he was pretty shite tonight, Cieslak did land the occasional shot bit reminded me of a crafty journeymen or gatekeeper, bad day at office from Okolie but a worthy winner

[Old bones Ian]

I still think of Okolie as a boxer in development and expect to see something new or improved every fight.
He just isn't learning anything new.

He's learnt how to turn off boxing fans quite well.
That was awful by him tonight, maybe he's a gym boxer as you wouldn't teach him to box like that surely.

I think it all goes out tthe window when he gets into the ring for real, I bet he looks great in sparring and the gym.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Not seen it tonight....has Okolie reverted back to his 3 year ago self?

His opponent didn’t help

[skanksta]

Yeah looks like the Polish crowd won Cieslak a few rounds there - judges all closer than us, but the right man wins by clear UD.

[KiwiRider]

Okolie awful to watch but with the constant potential of a highlight Ko

I don't want to put a damper on the guy, but this kinda feels like his level.
Definitely stay away from a unification.

I actually think the opposite. He’s going to be a tough guy to beat because of his size, reach and decent right hand.

I think he beats everyone in the division bar Breidis and I’d make that one a 50/50.

That’s not to say the fights would be that entertaining though!

His right hand is a real force.
Thing is, he doesn't land it very often when his opponent has a modicum of head movement. He has been amazing blasting out stationary targets. But you saw tonight he virtually gave up on the jab after a while because he just wasn't landing it, and the right hand usually follows that. He showed a good engine tonight.

[milpool]

Loved that little get together with Breidis

[Blueprint]

Breidis is so strange

[maverick23]

I don't want to put a damper on the guy, but this kinda feels like his level.
Definitely stay away from a unification.

I actually think the opposite. He’s going to be a tough guy to beat because of his size, reach and decent right hand.

I think he beats everyone in the division bar Breidis and I’d make that one a 50/50.

That’s not to say the fights would be that entertaining though!

His right hand is a real force.
Thing is, he doesn't land it very often when his opponent has a modicum of head movement. He has been amazing blasting out stationary targets. But you saw tonight he virtually gave up on the jab after a while because he just wasn't landing it, and the right hand usually follows that. He showed a good engine tonight.

I agree with everything you said.

Cieslak was rated as the 7th best cruiser in the world by Boxing News who use a fair system. Okolie boxed fairly poorly and still won a wide decision.

Unifications next please and then a move up to heavy.

[Zubrei]

I blame myself. Who else is there to blame. You can't blame okolie, he is what he is. Yet I still watch, hoping for something different. No ability to judge and keep range.

I blame myself

[KiwiRider]

Loved that little get together with Breidis

That's Jake Paul Promotions crap.
Now go and wash your mouth out with soap

[garethhop]

1/5 full arena, cracking couple of undercard fights, stinking main event. How did it come to this Eddie?

[KiwiRider]

1/5 full arena, cracking couple of undercard fights, stinking main event. How did it come to this Eddie?

It was excellent compared to the long awaited Taylor Catterall fight, that undercard was dire, and the decision was criminal.
At least tonight we had come back of the year, and England's next world champion on debut in more than just a knockover fight.
Okolie was himself, magnified by an equally negative opponent. No biggie.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[JamesPhilips]

Breidis is so strange

lol strange that’s he’s so desperate for the Jake Paul fight. He’s odd though

[oogiebe]

Breidis is so strange

lol strange that’s he’s so desperate for the Jake Paul fight. He’s odd though

It'd probably be his biggest paycheck.

[margaret thatcher]

oko is ugly but effective, and sometimes can be explosive. there are like 2 versions of him. - i gotta go out on a limb and say he's the best cruiser, though not the most proven yet of course. would like to see him vs dorticos or briedis. and then move up pretty soon, cruiser isnt quite as hot as it was a few years back, where there would still be loads of fun options.

jordy gill -- took a shellacking, dropped, ddt'd......kept at it though and dude earned that win. euro champ's a great accomplishment

[emallini]

Okolie will probably beat Breidis.

[gregregegg]

I think okolie would be favourite now, its the tipping point, briedis is just too old and inactive.. horrible guy to fight. that 1-2 hold is dreadfull but effective and a nightmare on an old mans legs...

Think okolie needs to increase his punch variety if he is going to go to heavyweight. Still going to be long there, but wont be a freak. Left hook and right upercut would be a huge increase in his offencive danger even if used sparingly.

[JamesPhilips]

Breidis is so strange

lol strange that’s he’s so desperate for the Jake Paul fight. He’s odd though

It'd probably be his biggest paycheck.

True but a tragic reflection on modern boxing

[Evander]

Who is this referee, where did they get this guy from ?
He could have DQ'd Cieslak based off of behind the head shots easily, I don't even think he deducted him a single point.
Is this amateur hour/clown show refereeing or what.
Okolie dominated most of the rounds with his athleticism and one two jab to the head straight right hand with the odd body shot, took him to the 9th before he scored with the left hook to the body and head which at least shows he has those tools.
Surprised Cieslak didn't go to the body in the clinches when he had the opportunity, he was more content with focusing on rabbit punches obviously.
Okolie came out of it looking ok, certainly has entertainment value in his style, let's see where he goes from here.