Lawrence Okolie sensationally won the vacant WBO Cruiserweight title with a statement sixth round knockout of former two-time champion, Krzysztof Glowacki, at SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday.
Okolie (16-0, 13 KOs) ruthlessly closed the show, and announced his arrival on the world scene in style with a huge right hand closing the show and inflicting just a third defeat on Glowacki, whose only previous losses come to Oleksandr Usyk and Mairis Briedis.
The contest was shelved on fight week in December, and Okolie channelled the frustration he felt to become a world champion in his 16th fight.
The Londoner began in controlled fashion, finding his jab early and putting the Pole on the back foot in the opening round, with a decent right hand finding the mark.
The visitor was being picked off as early as the second, as the rangy Okolie peppered him with the jab and landed downstairs in a dominant session.
The body work again took the third round for the 28-year-old, and a stinging right hand wobbled Glowacki (31-3, 19 KOs) in round four.
The writing seemed on the wall, and the fifth saw more one-way traffic, with Okolie’s radar-like jab not allowing Glowacki to get any momentum going.
The end came just a round later, with a devastating right hand dropping the former champion heavily, and as he rose on unsteady legs, the fight was waved off by referee, Marcus McConnell.
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Okolie, who became Britain’s fifth active male world champion could be in line for unification clashes with the likes of WBA ‘Super’ champion, Arsen Goulamirian, WBC titlist, Ilunga Mukabu and IBF holder, Mairis Briedis, who he called for in the aftermath of his win.
“It’s amazing to be able to put an exclamation mark on my life with a world title,” Okolie told Sky Sports post-fight.
“I just want to say if you believe anything in this life you want you can get.”
Cordina back with a win
The undercard saw Joe Cordina return from a long period of injury frustrations, to post a ten round majority points win against Faroukh Kourbanov (17-3, 3 KOs).
The Welshman will be thankful of the rounds banked, and he wasn’t at his brilliant best, starting brightly before fading down the stretch, but was good value for his win.
One score of a 96-96 draw was overruled by scores of 98-93 and 96-95 in favour of Cordina (12-0, 7 KOs).
Billam-Smith overcomes tough Ducar
Commonwealth Cruiserweight champion, Chris Billam-Smith added the vacant WBA Continental title to his collection with an entertaining points win over the tough Vasil Ducar.
A short right hand, followed by several clubbing shots had the Czech on the floor in the fourth, and he was down again in the sixth from a wicked left to the body from the Bournemouth man.
🏆 MCGUIGANS GYM BAG ALL 3️⃣ POINTS
⚽️Strikes from @Lawrence_tko @afowler06 & @ChrisBillam were enough to give @McGuigans_Gym & @ClonesCyclone victory last night
They look like the team to beat at the moment @afcbournemouth @258mgt 👀
🎙@daviddiamante😂#Boxing #OkolieGlowacki pic.twitter.com/n6cavQi9IH
— Pro Boxing Fans (@ProBoxingFans) March 21, 2021
Ducar (9-4-1, 8 KOs) had his moments though, and gave Billam-Smith (12-1, 10 KOs) plenty to think about, but ‘The Gentleman’ triumphed by two scores of 99-90 and one at 97-92. The scorecards were harsh on the visitor.
Billam-Smith called for a clash with European champion, Tommy McCarthy in the aftermath.
Fowler blasts out Fortea
Anthony Fowler made a statement with a third round knockout of IBF number 15 ranked Spaniard, Jorge Fortea, defending his WBA International Super Welterweight title in the process.
A perfectly timed left hand knocked the visitor down in round three, before a vicious follow-up assault, finished by a big right hand had Fortea (21-3-1, 7 KOs) out for the count.
Fowler (14-1, 11 KOs) remains on course for the likes of Ted Cheeseman, JJ Metcalf, his old foe Scott Fitzgerald and European champion, Sergio Garcia whom he called out after his impressive win.
Ramla Ali and Ellie Scotney moved to 2-0 as professionals, with both enjoying comfortable points wins over six rounds.
At Featherweight, Anthony Joshua-managed Ali (2-0) defeated the brave Bec Connolly by a 60-55 verdict, while at Super Bantamweight, Scotney (2-0) took a 59-55 win against Mailys Gangloff.
The Middleweight battle of the unbeatens went the way of Bradley Rea, as he improved to 10-0 (4 KOs), dropping Lee Cutler (7-1, 4 KOs) three times on the way to a first round stoppage win.
