Lacklustre Lerena loses to Lawrence Okolie by unanimous decision
Two judges didn't give Lerena a round, scoring the bout a perfect 100-90 for Okolie, while the third gave the South African one round at 99-91.
Okolie's record improved to 22 wins and one defeat, while Lerena, the WBC bridgerweight champion, dropped to 31-4.
As a heavyweight campaigning internationally, Lerena has lost three out of three abroad, having been stopped in 2022 by Englishman Daniel Dubois and outpointed by Australian Justis Huni in 2024.
Lerena was never in trouble against Okolie, but he surely went to the ring with more than survival on his mind.
Okolie controlled the first round, pressing the action against a fighter who looked tentative and seldom initiating the action.
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