Boxing: Chamberlain aiming to end Okolie run
Isaac Chamberlain is aiming to end the unbeaten run of Hackney's Lawrence Okolie, a former amateur at Repton and Dagenham (pic Scott Heavey) - Credit: Archant
Isaac Chamberlain wants to celebrate three years as a professional by inflicting a first career defeat on Hackney’s Lawrence Okolie in London on Saturday.
Okolie-Chamberlain headlines at The O2 and the unbeaten Brixton talent has grafted hard to get to his place at the top of the bill.
The 23-year-old passed a gut-check in his sixth fight when he battled through a dislocated shoulder to take the Southern Area cruiserweight title from Wadi Camacho in September 2016 – and it’s that grit and determination that Chamberlain feels is the difference between the pair.
“It’s going to be an amazing experience headlining at The O2,” said Chamberlain.
“From coming from nothing to this stage is humbling. I’m not one of these guys that goes out partying after fights and blow all my money, I’m trying to buy a house, get a mortgage, set my life up and live right, and this is a big fight and one that pays well.
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“I want to be great, I want to win belts and I want to fight top fighters. I’ve tasted titles against Camacho and I’m fighting on top of a big bill at The O2, this is what I am in the sport for.
“Nothing has been given to me in boxing, that’s been the case from day one and it still is. I will always have that underdog mentality and go into fights to take everything. I won’t stop at any cost, I’m always going to be in the gym and living right because I don’t want this journey to end.
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“I think it’s a good thing that I’ve had to work hard for what I’ve got. Boxing is hard at every level, from bottom to top. When you are a world champion there’s a target on your back and everyone hunts you down, that’s not easy.
“My ride has made me mentally stronger, if I’d had things handed to me, I wouldn’t know what it’s like to dig deep and grit my teeth to get through the tough moments. I know that when it gets tough, I can bite down on the gumshield and get to the other side with the win.”
Chamberlain and Okolie clash on a huge night of action in Greenwich as Reece Bellotti puts his Commonwealth featherweight title on the line for the first time against Ben Jones.
Rising Essex force Ted Cheeseman faces a real step-up in international class against a familiar face in Carson Jones, the Oklahoma man who twice met former welterweight world ruler Kell Brook and Brian Rose, and won on his most recent visit, stopping Ben Hall last November and comes into the fight after facing modern great Antonio Margarito in September.
Team GB Rio Olympian Joshua Buatsi laces them up for a fourth time in the paid ranks, Paul Butler gets valuable rounds as he hunts a shot at the WBA world bantamweight crown, former world title challenger Charlie Edwards looks to get back on the road to major honours, and Felix Cash is full of confidence after moving to 7-0 with a second successive first-round KO win last week and is looking to land a first title shot at middleweight in 2018.
Limited tickets remain on general sale at theO2.co.uk priced at £40.
Face value tickets are available fromstubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/.
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