Kevin Lerena handed heavyweight boxing lesson at Wembley
The former WBO cruiserweight champion extended his record to 22-1 (16 KOs) with a unanimous decision win (100-90 x2, 99-91) in a bout where his physical advantages – height, reach, and weight – did the bulk of the work.
But in front of a 60 000-strong crowd at Wembley Stadium, the fight failed to catch fire.
Okolie, now campaigning at heavyweight and ranked No 1 by the WBC, looked composed and effective but uninspired.
He controlled the range with a stiff jab and peppered Lerena's midsection with long right hands, but rarely stepped into top gear.
The South African southpaw, known for dropping Daniel Dubois three times in a previous clash, struggled to close the distance and land anything meaningful.
He had a brief moment of success in round six with a left hook, but for most of the night, he was kept on the outside and smothered whenever he got close.
Even Okolie seemed aware of the slow tempo.
In round nine, he glanced at the big screen during a clinch, checking the clock.
Lerena tried to provoke a firefight in the 10th by pointing to the canvas and calling for a toe-to-toe exchange – but Okolie declined, opting for safety over spectacle.
Okolie's clean sweep on the scorecards reinforces his position among the next tier of heavyweight contenders under the Queensberry banner, but the lack of aggression or ambition in this performance may leave fans and potential opponents unimpressed.
Despite being heavier than during his cruiserweight title run – up by around 60 pounds – Okolie still moved well.
However, his punch volume and risk-taking remain issues, particularly if he hopes to challenge elite heavyweights like Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.
The 31-year-old had previously been scheduled to face Richard Riakporhe in April but withdrew due to injury.
That fight, now delayed, still looms as a potential domestic blockbuster.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Exclusive: Edward Motale tips Pirates to finally end Mamelodi Sundowns' PSL dominance
COACH Abdeslam Ouaddou;s experience of playing in top leagues is expected to help him at Orlando Pirates. | Orlando Pirates Image: OP/Facebook ORLANDO Pirates legend Edward Motale is confident that the Soweto giants have done enough in the current transfer window to not only mount a serious challenge against Mamelodi Sundowns, but to bring an end to the Pretoria-based side's dominant reign at the top of South African football. The Buccaneers have not lifted the league title since the 2011/12 season, but after pushing closer to the top during the previous campaign than they have in recent years – even though they ultimately finished 13 points behind champions Sundowns – there's a renewed sense of optimism in Orlando. A large part of that comes from their activity in the market, with several new signings boosting hopes that they can go all the way this time. Pirates will also head into the new campaign under new leadership following the departure of head coach Jose Riveiro to Egyptian giants Al Ahly at the end of last season. Moroccan tactician Abdeslam Ouaddou has already taken over, and he has inherited a team that reached the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League and also played in the Nedbank Cup final. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Despite missing out on silverware in the final stretch – with only the MTN8 trophy to show for their efforts – the team showed significant progress, and expectations are once again high for the upcoming season. Motale, a former Bucs defender who played a key role in the club's historic 1995 CAF Champions League-winning side, believes that Pirates have what it takes to not only compete with Sundowns but to finally surpass them. 'The club knows where they went wrong last season,' Motale told Independent Newspapers. 'Before the coach left, he even admitted that they were too confident in certain matches and dropped points against so-called smaller teams – that's where they lost the title. 'The fact that they've already acknowledged what cost them shows a team that's learning and growing. That gives me the belief that this season they won't just be challengers – they will go all the way and win the league.' The Sea Robbers recently concluded a pre-season tour in Spain, which gave new coach Ouaddou a valuable opportunity to assess his squad in competitive conditions. The trip also allowed him to experiment with combinations and get a clearer picture of the team's depth heading into what could be a demanding campaign. Motale praised the value of the tour, saying it gave many players a chance to prove themselves while also helping the coaching staff make informed decisions ahead of their MTN8 title defence. 'I saw the last two matches of the tour,' Motale continued. 'You can't judge too much from only a few games, but it was important for every player to get game time. 'It was also an opportunity for the coach to see who fits where, to try out combinations. 'I don't think he'll struggle with a large squad. In fact, I suspect that even in those four matches, he has already figured out a few preferred combinations and maybe even his best starting eleven. 'He played at the highest level, and when someone has that kind of experience, it doesn't take long to spot your top players. He'll know who to go with.' The Buccaneers will kick off the defence of their MTN8 title against Polokwane City on August 2 at the Orlando Stadium, with the league season set to begin soon after.
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Ackermann says he's ‘not different, only more streetwise' since his Lions days
New Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says he is not a different coach, but a more streetwise and experienced one than he was before. New Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said he has become more 'streetwise and experienced,' learning about player management and the value of inclusivity in the seven years since he left the Lions. Ackermann led the Lions to Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017 before joining Gloucester and reaching the 2018 Challenge Cup final. He later coached in Japan, guiding Urayasu to Division 1 promotion in 2022, and recently consulted with the Junior Springboks, who won this year's World Championship. While in Japan, he earned the Division 2 Coach of the Year award, adding to his three South African Coach of the Year honours. Ackers learns much overseas Now back in South Africa, Ackermann said he aims to build a healthy, value-driven culture at the Bulls centred on mutual respect, humility, service, and teamwork — getting the best out of players while ensuring they enjoy what they do. 'I wouldn't say different,' he said when asked how he had changed since his Lions tenure. 'Maybe more streetwise, a bit more experienced. A bit more wary of how important it is to include different cultures.' He also highlighted the importance of players understanding the demands of modern rugby, especially extensive travel and adapting to team systems. 'Culture was the big thing [overseas]. You had All Blacks. They wanted a certain style; they wanted to play a certain way. Then you had an English player, then you had a Scottish player… 'So to create that unity and to also put your stamp on it, it took a lot of convincing. You have to really be strong on your principles and how you want to play, and also allow them to have input.' Ackermann balances being fun and being hands-on Ackermann said coaching the Lions was easier due to a fresh group that was more willing to be moulded the way he and Swys de Bruin wanted. At Gloucester and in Japan, he worked with strong personalities and internationals like Liam Gill, Israel Folau, and Greig Laidlaw. 'You have to learn as a coach that sometimes you can learn from them as well. There are good inputs there.' Still, he believes the team's direction must come from the coach. On his current role, he said Phiwe Nomlomo had led the Currie Cup side well and he didn't want to overshadow him. 'It will be a good opportunity for me to be on the back seat… then I can start sharing how I see things.' 'I think to be yourself is the best thing. To bring a bit of dancing and a bit of laughter and a bit of music. Everybody enjoys that, doesn't matter what culture they are.'
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Bad news for Chiefs and Pirates as Sundowns steals top target
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are set to lose their top target, Fawaaz Basadien, to Mamelodi Sundowns. The 28-year-old talented left-back was heavily linked to Amakhosi last year, but the Soweto giants fell short of Stellenbosch FC's asking price. In recent weeks, Basadien has been tipped to join Downs before the start of the season. On Thursday, SABC Sport 's Mazole Moloefe announced that the Bafana Bafana defender did not train with Stellies and in fact, watched from the sidelines. 'The public broadcaster has been made aware that the Bafana Bafana international this morning watched the training session from the sidelines, having been part of pre-season under coach Steve Barker in the days prior,' SABC Sport wrote. 'Stellies have been reluctant to sell Basadien for some time now and even offered the player a new long-term contract extension – forcing potential suitors to bid heavy figures to get any deal over the line. 'It's one of the reasons Chiefs could not get their target. 'However, Sundowns, with a reputation of triggering buyout clauses, are believed to have made their intentions clear on Basadien.' Last year, Sundowns purchased Iqraam Rayners and Jayden Adams for significant sums, despite Stellies' firm stance against selling players. With Basadien not training with the team, it seems likely that his departure is imminent. Both Chiefs and Pirates expressed interest in signing the left-back; however, his price tag of R20 million may have been too high for them. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
