Boxing: Kiwi David Light earns shot at WBO cruiserweight title against champion Lawrence Okolie
Christopher Reive
Kiwi boxer David Light will get his shot at a world title, with the WBO ordering a mandatory challenge for the cruiserweight against reigning champion Lawrence Okolie.
Light earned his opportunity at Okolie over the weekend after an action-packed 10 rounds against American Brandon Glanton on his way to a split-decision win. It was a nervy wait for the two boxers as the judges’ scores were read out, particularly for Light who was ruled to have been knocked down after what appeared to be a slip in the final round. However, he was awarded the win 97-92, 95-94, 94-95.
While the win over WBO No 7 ranked Glanton did not improve Light’s No 6 ranking with the organisation, it did establish him as the mandatory title challenger.
That has come to the fighter from Auckland’s Peach Boxing stable at an ideal time, with Okolie overdue to defend his title, having last fought over nine months ago. In the WBO, world champions must defend their titles every nine months, with the exception of heavyweight where that period is extended to 12 months.
“The most unassuming ones are the ones you just watch out for. I don’t believe the smiles, I know a savage when I see one,” the champion posted on an Instagram story, accompanied by a shark emoji — a nod to Light’s ‘Great White’ nickname.
Another post on the same platform read: “Big smoke. Another undefeated fighter — 20-0, Commonwealth silver medalist, WBO mandatory — tough, game and talented boxer. Just what I’ve been needing.”
On Monday, the WBO sent a letter to the Light and Okolie’s teams giving them a 20-day window to reach an agreement or purse bid proceedings would be called per the organisation’s regulations.
However, on Wednesday, they issued another communication and ruled, due to a legal dispute between Team Okolie and his former promoter Matchroom Boxing, the 20-day negotiation window would be dismissed and purse bids would be ordered immediately. Purse bids will be conducted on December 15.
The bout will be Okolie’s third defence since claiming the vacant belt in early 2021 after Mairis Briedis was stripped of it in late 2019. The British boxer’s most recent defence was a unanimous decision victory in February. Okolie is undefeated in 18 professional bouts, with 14 of those 18 wins coming by knockout.
It will be yet another bout for Light in which two unbeaten fighters clash, with the Kiwi having amassed a perfect 20-0 record (12 KO) since turning professional in 2017.
WBO orders Okolie-Light purse bid
The WBO World Championship Committee has ordered a December 14 purse bid for the mandatory clash between WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie and David Light. The situation has extra complications because Okolie and promoter Matchroom are engaged in a legal dispute.
Okolie and Light must inform the WBO in writing within 48 hours of the purse bid to confirm they will participate in the fight. Failure to comply will result in the Committee determining that the participant is uninterested and unavailable to participate in the mandated bout. If Okolie and/or Light suffer an injury, is impaired to fight, prevented to fight, refuses to fight, or is unavailable to fight for whatever reasons, the Committee may 1) vacate the title, 2) order an interim title, 3) determine any other course of action in the best interests of the WBO and the division.
Boxing: David Light indicates ideal time frame for WBO world title fight against Lawrence Okolie
Christopher Reive
David Light stood in the centre of the ring facing a nervous wait.
The Kiwi cruiserweight boxer had just gone 10 rounds with undefeated American Brandon Glanton in Florida, and the impending scores would determine who would get the next shot at Lawrence Okolie’s World Boxing Organisation (WBO) world title.
The action was back and forth, but Light was having plenty of success with his ‘bully the bully’ plan of attack and felt he had done enough to get the nod. He was, however, ruled to have been knocked down following a slip in the final round and in a close fight, moments like that can make all the difference.
That wasn’t the case last Saturday. Light was awarded a split decision win, etching his name as the WBO mandatory challenger.
Speaking to the Herald, Light said he felt like he won the fight in the moment — and after watching it back believes he won as many as seven of the 10 rounds — but being in enemy territory, you can never be too certain.
“I did feel good about the fight and that I had done everything I could do to win,” he recalled.
“But it being an overseas fight — I was in his territory, on his card with all his people — so I knew I needed to pull out an exceptional performance. Getting knocked down and all that stuff, you just brace for the worst.”
His performance not only earned him a shot at Okolie’s title, but also caught the attention of the reigning champion who interacted with Light via social media and praised the Kiwi’s abilities.
It was a welcome surprise for the 31-year-old training out of Auckland’s Peach Boxing gym, who confirmed he’d never had any communication with his next opponent.
“When he commented on one of my posts, that was the first I even knew that he knew I existed, which was cool. But he obviously was aware of me and we’re all on now.”
The WBO moved quickly to order Okolie put his title on the line against Light, with the unbeaten British boxer overdue a bout as his nine-month window between mandatory defences recently expired.
But while the WBO have called for purse bids and expect to come to a decision on the details of the fight next week, Light said he was hopeful he would get his opportunity at the belt in the New Zealand autumn.
“I kind of need the break,” he admitted.
“I’ve been going pretty hard this year, especially coming off an injury. Hopefully, we can get it in March or April — early April or the end of March. That’s what I’m looking for, but we’ll have to see what the WBO says, they might want it earlier. If it is earlier, then I’ll just have to get ready for that; I don’t really have a lot of choice.”
The win over Glanton was Light’s third bout of the year, as he quickly ramped up his activity after not having a bout for about 18 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic and an Achilles injury. Less than two months separated the win in Florida and his previous bout, while his first fight of the year only took place in May.
While he would ideally like to meet Okolie following the New Zealand summer, he is happy to leave negotiations to his team and just focus on his part of the job. His next fight, after all, will be the opportunity professional fighters dream of earning.
“It’s what we’ve been aiming for for years, but it’s kind of surreal when you realise you’re finally knocking on the door,” Light said of earning a world title shot.
“It all just happens very quickly, the thing you’ve been working towards forever, so it’s kind of a weird feeling.”
David Nyika talks 'hilarious' training camp with Tyson Fury
"He goes, 'Man, I can't wait to slap the s**t out of you," Nyika recalls.
The Olympic medallist had scored an invite to Fury's pre-fight camp and was trying to keep his head down.
"I've only just met the man, what could I have done to upset him," the New Zealander told AAP.
"He said, 'You look like you should be a Versace model, not a boxer ... you're too pretty."
Nyika wasn't sure what to say until the WBC heavyweight world champion cracked a grin.
"I was so shocked, but it was the start of a hilarious camp," Nyika said.
The Kiwi cruiserweight's friendship with countryman Joseph Parker set up the opportunity to spend several months training with Fury and his crew.
Highly-rated after leaving the amateur ranks with two Commonwealth golds to go with Olympic bronze, Nyika had options all over the world to base himself.
But he's settled for the sleepy Queensland country town of Gatton, about 90 minutes inland of Brisbane, under Noel Thornberry.
Thornberry comes from a legendary Australian boxing family and took Alex Leapai to a heavyweight world title fight against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014.
Fury isn't the only person taken by Nyika; the 27-year-old is dating Thornberry's daughter Lexy, who appeared on reality TV show Love Island last year.
New Zealand's Tokyo Olympic flagbearer has quickly become one of New Zealand's most popular athletes but Nyika said the small-town vibe of Gatton was perfect for his run to a world title inside the next three years.
"I love it here; I just wish the boys would clean up all their mess," he laughed as he gazed around Thornberry's backyard shed.
"The whole setting's nice and secluded; I know everyone and they know me and there's good hills to run up.
"It's a funny one (dating his trainer's daughter) but it works really well; I've been to 30 countries but have everything I need right here in Gatton of all places."
Nyika is 5-0 since turning professional, gaining traction after impressive victories on the undercard of both George Kambosos Jr world title cards this year.
He's nursing a hand injury but hopes to return to the ring early next year.
"All that's standing between him and a world title is hard work and activity and he's got the hard work covered," Thornberry said.
"He's as good a chance at winning a world title as any fighter I've ever seen.
"That last Kambosos fight was a bit of a coming out fight for him; people were like, 'Hang on, who's this guy?.
"He's extremely marketable, easy going, friendly ... but he can fight."
It's about longevity as a human' - Boxer's safety message packs a punch
Robin Martin of RNZ
Former champion boxer Sam Rapira is living with a form of dementia.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Champion boxer Sam Rapira has revealed for the first time publicly he is living with dementia pugilistica - a variant of chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE brought on by repeated concussions.
A light heavyweight, the Taranaki boxer won national, Oceania and Asia Pacific titles before hanging up his gloves in 2018.
He fought for eight years as an amateur before contesting 20 professional bouts over a five-year period.
The 39-year-old said he began to experience CTE symptoms before he stepped out of the ring for the last time.
Boxing trainer Jake Rapira said good mouthguards are critical in boxing.
"Since ending my career and even before finishing my career I've had some effects from multiple concussions over the years, so I do get memory lapses and I can be forgetful and I've had to set up some systems where I have to work a lot harder to remember things and I'm just dealing with that as good as I can."
He is now urging people taking part in combat sports to use the best protective equipment available.
Rapira said a grant from the Mars Wrigley Foundation and New Zealand Dental Association to get dentist-fitted mouthguards made for young fighters at his Box Office gym had prompted him to speak up.
He said early in his career he used off-the-shelf mouthguards.
"I just bought a cheap mouthguard from a cheap store, but when I turned professional I got a dentist-fitted mouthguard which was better and during my [professional] career I found out why it was much better and I definitely encourage people to be using a good mouthguard."
Boxing trainer Jake Rapira is Sam's brother and business partner at Box Office.
He believed dentist-fitted mouthguards can help to reduce concussions.
"It is really important to have the right type of mouthguard just because when you are biting down on them and it locks up your jaw you're less likely to have your head rattled around because your neck is tensed up and it will stabilise you a lot better."
Jake Rapira said cheap mouthguards could also fall out, leaving a boxer vulnerable to serious injury.
Dr Andrea Kelsen is a dental specialist with Te Whatu Ora Taranaki.
She organised the $5000 grant to have fitted mouthguards, which could cost up to $300, made for the Box Office fighters.
"They are definitely more expensive and can be inaccessible to some of these athletes, but they reduce the likelihood of trauma to the dental soft and hard tissues."
Dr Kelsen said, although it was not her area of expertise, there was some evidence fitted mouthguards could reduce concussion.
The grant package also included general dental hygiene and care support for the fighters.
Kalani Marra, who has just returned from the world championships in Spain, was one of the boxers to benefit from the grant.
The 18-year-old appreciated the difference.
"I noticed the difference when I had it, how secure it was, when I got hit sometimes. Taking a shot you can kind of feel it, but with this one here it was so compact, so tight it felt normal and there was no movement there and I felt safer having it in my mouth."
Boxer Kalani Marra said he felt 'safer' with a new mouthguard.
He had thought about the implications of getting too many head knocks.
"Obviously, as a boxer I'm trying to stay as pretty as I can for as long as I can, right? So, keeping my teeth is an important part.
"One of my main things is - I love boxing - but I want to be as safe as possible so the aim of the game is to hit and not get hit and that is what I try my best to do."
Meanwhile Sam Rapira, who said he had no regrets and still loved boxing, was working with the young fighters to help them avoid the pitfalls of the sport.
"I'm trying to make them to get out of the way of the punch rather than eat the punch.
"Like it's not just about points, it's about longevity as a human so I think what I tell them resonates with them because they can see I've had negative effects and I'm trying help them learn from them as well."
In 2020, ACC accepted 1883 dental injury claims.
So far this year, 757 boxing-related concussion claims have been lodged.
Before his last fight, Sam was told to retire instead of continuing to fight as he was showing symptoms of CTE, which he ignored. I believe he has a young family at home. Such a shame to a wonderful guy. I've worked a number of his fights.
I like his style': Lawrence Okolie wary of David Light threat ahead of world title showdown
Stuff sports reporters
07:45, Dec 15 2022
Lawrence Okolie says he is expecting a "big performance” from David Light when they clash in the ring.
WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie won’t be underestimating David Light when he defends his world title against the New Zealander next year.
Light (20-0, 12 KOs) earned himself a mandatory shot at Okolie’s crown when he climbed off the canvas to edge American Brandon Glanton via split decision in Florida this month.
The WBO has since instructed both parties to enter formal negotiations with purse bids next week set to determine when and where the bout will be held.
And Englishman Okolie (18-0, 14 KOs) is well aware of the threat presented by the unbeaten Light, having studied his opponent from afar for a long time.
“I'm looking forward to it. I've known about David Light for a number of years,” Okolie told iFL TV.
“I was meant to box him back in 2020, but he said no, he's going to make himself mandatory and he's gone ahead and done it, beaten some good guys on the way, a couple of undefeated fighters.
“So he's now 20-0, from Australia (sic), and I'm looking forward to the challenge. Good boxer ... like I said, I like his style, so it will be interesting to see how we match up."
The 6ft 5in Okolie picked up the WBO strap when he knocked out former champion Krzysztof Glowacki of Poland in the sixth round in March 2021.
The big Brit has defended it twice more since, stopping Dilan Prasovic in the third round in September last year and outpointing Michael Cieslak in February.
Known as ‘The Sauce’, Okolie has ambitions to move up to heavyweight but first plans to unify the cruiserweight division.
While keen to follow his mentor Anthony Joshua’s path into bigger, more lucrative fights, Okolie, 29, was respectful of Light’s graft to earn his shot and said he would be motivated to take care of business come fight night.
“Probably more so, because you can't slip in a rematch clause. So it's all or nothing first time. One shot at it,” Okolie told iFL TV when asked if he would be able to get himself up for facing the relatively unknown Light.
“It depends on the mandatory, my first mandatory, all respect to him for being a boxer, he wasn't a good as this guy [Light]. This guy is actually a legit contender and fought his way hard to get there. He's someone I can't take lightly.
“I have to do what I'm meant to do, which is stay in shape, which I've done but push on now. I'm expecting a big performance from him, so I'm going to have to put on a big performance from myself.”
Okolie is on the books of Matchroom Boxing but is involved in an ongoing contractual dispute with the Eddie Hearn-led outfit that saw him lash out at the promoter on social media last month.
David Light is confident of dethroning WBO world champion Lawrence Okolie when they meet next year.
“Can't lie this year was turning me of boxing. Dirty, lying, narcissistic individuals who 'run' the sport,” Okolie wrote.
Okolie shed some light on his beef with Hearn during his interview with iFL TV, saying he wanted to leave or renegotiate his deal with Matchroom after his contract ended, only for Hearn to claim he still owed the company one more fight.
This was due to the fact that Matchroom did not believe his 2020 fight with Nikodem Jezewski during the Covid-19 pandemic counted as part of the contract.
“I’ve got a new deal that I presented, I said, ‘Matchroom, you don’t even need to match these numbers, just get close and I’ll stay with you,’ Okolie explained.
“They said, ‘Absolutely not, if you wanna take that new deal, you’re gonna have to pay my company £500,000 (NZ$963,000)’.
“Our contract’s come to an end, you either pay more or I move on,” Okolie added. “Eddie Hearn of all people should really understand. He was with Sky for years, had amazing shows, built up a host of fighters. Then a US$1 billion (NZ$1.5 billion) cheque came and Eddie ran off to [broadcaster] DAZN.”
Nevertheless, Hearn and Matchroom are expected to win the purse bid over Light’s promoter Matt Rose and the No Limit Boxing team, meaning the fight will almost certainly take place in the UK where Okolie is a household name.
Light told Stuff recently he was confident of going into the lion’s den and dethroning the lanky Okolie.
“I've fought tall guys like Okolie before and know how to handle myself in those situations,” he said.
“I quite like those taller fighters. You’ve got to be prepared for anything at this level. I think I’ve always been a versatile enough boxer – I’m not exactly a one-trick pony. I’ve been able to punch, I’ve been able to box a bit, so it’s given me enough versatility in my game.”
Just saw a tape of the Okolie/Cieslak fight. Okalie is huge and awkward, with a lethal right hand. But his boxing skills are very average. If Light can look to time him as he comes in, and counter, he can win this. Very different game plan to his previous fight.
Yeah Okolie s mental makeup is questionable
A doorway in if anything