Lawrence Okolie taken the distance by dogged Michal Cieslak, Galal Yafai shines on debut

It cannot be easy for a world champion to remain focused and motivated on his challengers when what they really desire is to unify. For the second consecutive contest, this was a potential issue for WBO cruiserweight king Lawrence Okolie. The rangy Hackney puncher walloped over-promoted Dilan Prasovic in September but tonight, at the storm-beleaguered O2 in London, ‘The Sauce’ was presented with a far tougher, if equally low-profile, challenger in Michal Cieslak of Poland. The strong dogged Cieslak had lost only to WBC ruler Ilunga Makabu, a close decision setback in the champ’s Congo homeand, and came with confidence. Might undefeated Okolie, headlining this Matchroom/DAZN show, overlook him as the Londoner pursues the likes of Makabu and IBF king Mairis Briedis?

The answer was no although hardly a resounding one, as despite hurting Cieslak several times, Okolie was forced to settle for a wide points victory after a messy fight. The scores were 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112, all in Okolie’s favour.

Okolie applied pressure from the off with his feet and a busy jab setting up a big right hand which was telegraphed at times yet still hurt Cieslak, who looked bewildered by the fast start. He settled down in the second but was still pinned back by the huge champion. Cieslak switched to southpaw in round three which at least gave Okolie pause for thought but the Pole was simply not throwing enough.

It became scrappier in the fourth, Cieslak trying to unsettle Okolie. The challenger came forward more in the next and seemed to be making headway, but a heavy right over the top dropped him, and another rocked him late in the stanza. Cieslak was roared on by a significant Polish contingent but clean work remained at a premium in round six.

He upped his workrate in the seventh, however and seemed keen to take Okolie into the later rounds. Amidst a litany of wrestling and rabbit-punching from both boxers in the next, Cieslak landed a smart right on the counter. Okolie re-established his range in round nine and got the better of things but Cieslak did connect with one hard left hook.

Okolie unloaded heavy blows in round 10 but Cieslak was quick to smother his upright but imposing adversary. The 11th saw more of the same and while Okolie was clearly ahead, he could improve on his maintaining distance and not falling in when attacking. Cieslak was dogged and is a hard man, but showed only limited variety. He seemed content to survive in the last, and he did.

Heavily dropped in round seven and seemingly heading towards a stoppage or retirement defeat., under siege Chatteris featherweight Jordan Gill found a stunning right hand counter in the ninth, reminiscent of Juan Manuel Marquez’s KO of Manny Pacquiao, to relieve Frenchman Karim Guerfri of his senses and the European title. With two seconds left in the session, it could hardly have been scripted better.

Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai turned pro under the familiar tutelage of GB Performance Director Rob McCracken and impressed out of the gate, outclassing and overwhelming game Mexican Carlos Bautista for a fifth-round stoppage. Yafai was always in charge, decking his opponent shortly before the finish and deserves credit for starting in the paid code with a scheduled 10-rounder.