Anyone else fancy Lerena in this one? Very fast hands and Okolie hasn't fought anyone at heavyweight yet.
Okolie looks soft and fat in that photo. Lerena looks soft too. But Okolie will need to start getting into much better shape. Regardless, he will beat Lerena even as fat as he has been recently.
Okolie will try his usual jab-right hand-clinch routine, but Lerena is a sharp and compact puncher, so he will get opportunities to land his own power and he definitely hits hard enough to crack Okolie's chin. My only worry is that Okolie's incessant clinching and leaning will tire Lerena out, so if Lerena is to win he probably has to do it early.
I'm rooting for Lerena. Needs to get a sweat on and rub a ton of salt into his skin just prior to the ring walk tho. May help with the grappling clinging sticky leech taking a too firm hold...
Lerena has a legit chance here. He is vastly more experienced, for one thing, and he is due to have some luck go his way.
I am thankful for lerena existing. So far he has been losing his toughest fights, but already gave us a lot to think about against dubois and huni. Boxing needs these interesting opponents and I wish him all the luck in the world for his career.
Lerena has the chance of pulling of an upset here. Okolie has made the classic CW to HW mistake of just eating and getting fat, rather than still being disciplined. If Lerena can drop Okolie early here and is in shape himself, there is a chance.
So Kevin Lerena will give up his WBC World belt in Bridgerweight ? If it's yes so the vacant belt will be against Wlodarczyk and Ryad Merhy normally.
Lerena has been sparring with Fury for the last year and Fury is quite the octopus himself. Okolie has no chance.