LAWRENCE OKOLIE returns to action THIS WEEKEND in defence of his WBO cruiserweight championship against Michael Cieslak.
The Sauce hasn’t been in action since he KO’d Dilan Prasovic in an undercard bout for Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk back in September.
And Okolie has been eager for a unification encounter before he makes the transition to heavyweight, but a challenger is yet to step forward to face the Londoner.
Which means that this match-up against 200lbs Cieslak could be his final fight in this particular weight class.
- Main event start time: 9pm
- TV/Live stream: DAZN UK
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When is Lawrence Okolie vs Michal Cieslak?
- Okolie’s clash with Cieslak will take place on Sunday, February 27.
- The event will be held at the O2 Arena in London and the card WILL go ahead despite damage done to the arena during Storm Eunice last week.
- There will be around 10,000 fans in attendance at the clash.
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Yafai vs Bautista
Round 4 – Tempo has slightly slowed bu Yafai’s pressure is constant, edging forward with his feet and lead hand.
He smashes in a couple of body shots and Bautista is starting to look out of ideas.
Yafai lets his hands go and leaves Bautista on the retreat – the ref is having a close look here… but the Mexican survives and it’s into round five.
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Yafai vs Bautista
Round 3 – Bautista lands a decent number of punches which is a welcomed sign for his team at this point.
Yafai has pinned against the ropes and lands a flurry of shots but nothing damaging his Mexican opponent.
Few big left hands reigning in for Yafai and Bautista’s eye is beginning to look marked up as a result.
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Yafai vs Bautista
Round 2 – Yafai lands a left but takes one himself, responding by coming forward.
Bautista doing a better job closing the distance by Yafai batters his body for doing so.
Big relay at the end for Yafai has Bautista rocked but he remains up right and fighting for another round. But it’s one-way traffic so far.
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Yafai vs Bautista
Round 1 – Early left hand lands for Yafai, who adopts a high guard and walks forward.
Bautista sent rocking backwards as a combination lands for Yafai, who has started really quickly.
All Yafai that round as he bosses Bautista around the ring, landing left hands and counters for fun.
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Up next
Olympic gold medalist Galal Yafai makes his professional debut – and jumps right in with a ten rounder.
He faces Carlos Bautista for the WBC International title.
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Jor dropping
Jordan Gill scored a sensational come-from-behind knockout against Karim Guerfi to be crowned European champion.
The Brit had purposely pinned himself in his own corner as he appeared to be struggling for balance and breathe.
And just as Guerfi started to really lay on unbearable pressure, Gill turned the tie on its head in the most dramatic of fashion.
A counter right hook while up against the ropes for Gill left his French opponent sent tumbling backwards and out for the count.
The referee immediately waved off the fight as Guerfi was given oxygen and treated by medics.
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Blood sport
Guerfi was smashed so hard by Gill’s right fist that red flashes of blood and sinew spewed across the ring as he fell to the canvas.
Gill could hardly celebrate, his brain still scrambled from earlier blows.
One of the great comeback wins in modern British boxing.
The lad was in the deepest trouble you could imagine. Then he landed the sweetest peach possible.
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European champ
Jordan Gill draw last time out in December and was on the cusp of a violent and gory stoppage tonight at the o2.
His legs had betrayed him and a grotesque welt was growing over his right eye.
But he held his nerve, executed a plan and knocked his foe spark out with ONE SECOND of the round left.
Sensational stuff.
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Rocky 9?
Gill’s sensational comeback win is worthy of another Rocky movie.
He was finished, violated, bleeding and bruised.
Guerfi was seconds away from defending his title, he was even easing off.
Then Gill connected with a life-changing right hand and Guerfi was gone.
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Gill The Thrill
Gill almost collapsed after the KO win, he could barely stand.
Guerfi was teeing off in him while he cowered and covered up in his own corner.
It was getting hard to watch and the referee checked his battred eye.
Trainer Dave Coldwell must have been close to pulling him out.
And then BOOM – Gill saves his career and wins the European title with a rocket.
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Unreal!
Gill is out on his feet, spark out. But lands a sensational KO to win.
Guerfi needs medical attention after getting obliterated but is now safe back in his corner.
Gill had one eye, was down on the cards and landed a Hail Mary right hand to save his career.
Rocky-like stuff.
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Gill wins KO – R9
Gill is back in his own corner, backed in like a stray dog fighting for his life.
Guerfi even backs off and lets him walk out but he goes back and is struggling with his right eye.
Gill cannot see out of his right eye, he dabs at it and the ref checks it.
It’s a horrible injury. But he survives again and KOs him!
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Guerfi vs Gill – R9
Gill looked out on his feet twice but he kept covering up and countering.
Guerfi must be surprised by how tough the battered Brit is.
Gill ‘The Thrill’ is treating us to a barnstormer.
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Guerfi vs Gill – R8
Gill retreats straight back into his corner and Guerfi slashes away.
Gill is just standing there absorbing blows.
Then he lands one back and Guerfi is buzzed.
Gill returns to that corner to work off his back. He makes Guerfi miss and tags him.
Gill is hurt again and looks finished. But he rallied again in the final 10 seconds. Amazing heart from Jordan Gill.
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Guerfi vs Gill – R8
Gill was violently sparked and looked doomed.
He had 20 seconds to survive and then Guerfi hid a DDT straight out of Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts’ locker.
Can Gill recover now?
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Gill down– R7
Guerfi catches Gill flush with a left hook but the Englishman copes well.
It’s seesaw action as both men take turns to land and Gill is floored by a left hook.
Gill looks to survive the final 20 seconds bit then Guefi scores a DDT slam from WWE wrestling.
Crazy round.
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Guerfi vs Gill – R6
Guerfi knocks a spray of sweat of Gill’s hair with a right hand.
But Gill jabs his way back in range and attacks the body well.
But Guerfi hammers him with left and right hooks that shake his jaw.
Gill might have lost that round just in the final 30 seconds after taking some heavy shots.
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Guerfi vs Gill – R5
Gill hurts Guerfi and throws the kitchen sink at him.
The Frenchman covers up and asbrobs heavy blows on his arms.
But Gill lets him off by accidentally catching him below the belt so he gets time to recover and reset.
Can Gill recapture that dominance?
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Guerfi vs Gill – R4
Gill shoves Guerfi to the floor with a forearm to the throat.
The Englishman has stepped on the gas this round.
But Guerfi slams a right ito his stubble once again.
And Gill ends the round on the front foot throwing power shots.
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Guerfi vs Gill – R3
Gill is doing well defensively, showing off slips and slides but he is not punishing Guerfi enough when he misses.
Gill’s face has been beaten a nice shade of crimson but he hasn’t looked hurt.
Guerfi has marched and punched his way into the contest.
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Guerfi vs Gill – R2
Gill boxes well on the backfoot as Guerfi marches forward.
The pair exchange left hooks but then Guerfi scores again with a one-two.
The Frenchman probably takes that round with a more positive approach.
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Guerfi vs Gill – R1
Gill’s jab is busy and accurate but Guerfi’s left hook is dangerous.
Guerfi, wearing full-length white leggings under his shorts, connects a couple of times to even up the opener.
But Gill enjoys most of the control behind a fizzing jab.
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Jordan Gill vs Karim Guerfi
Peterborough’s featherweight ace goes for the European title next.
The 27-year-old only managed a draw last time out so will need to step-up now.
But Guerfi was a bantamweight just two fights ago so should not be too scary.
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Fowler wins UD
The judges call it: 99-93, 99-92 & 99-91.
The Liverpool man can move on to big domestic fights at the new weight soon.
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Fowler vs Maciec – R10
Fowler gets another three minutes of peppering Maciec but not hurting him.
The bell goes to end a fight that became one sided after Maciec rallied briefly in the middle.
Fowler will get the unanimous decision shortly.