Okolie vs Light: Fight time, undercard, latest odds, prediction, ring walks tonight
It’s only the Londoner’s third title defense, which he won two years ago by stopping Krzysztof Glowacki, with an early knockout of the hopelessly overwhelmed Dilan Prasovic, followed by a points win over Michal Cieslak.
This weekend is Okolie’s first fight in about 13 months, after being embroiled in a bitter contractual split with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing before eventually teaming up with Ben Shalom and Boxxer, and training alongside Tyson Fury with SugarHill Steward after defeating Shane left McGuigan.
After a stint outside the ring, ‘The Sauce’ hopes to quickly regain some momentum in his quest to unify the cruiserweight division and then climb up into the heavyweight ranks.
In Light, Okolie meets an undefeated contender who has 20 wins from as many professional fights, 12 KOs, and who burst onto the stage by winning the heavyweight silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The New Zealander, 31, is the reigning WBO Global, International and Oriental champion at 200lbs as well as Okolie’s duty after overcoming a late knockdown to beat Brandon Glanton by split decision in Florida in December. Here’s everything you need to know about combat.
Okolie vs Light Date, Start Time, Venue and Walking Tours
Okolie vs Light takes place tonight on Saturday 25th March 2023 at the AO Arena in Manchester.
The undercard is scheduled to start at 19:00 GMT, with the main event ring walks expected around 22:00.
As always, these times are subject to change depending on the length of undercard fights.
Full Length Okolie vs Light Fight Card/Undercard
The vacant England super featherweight belt is up for grabs when Michael Gomez Jr. and Levi Giles square off in the night’s co-main event, while Team GB hero Frazer Clarke continues his professional journey against Bogdan Dinu after American Rydell Booker retired has illness.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Karriss Artingstall is also in action, along with a host of high-profile contestants including Callum Simpson, Aaron McKenna, Harvey Lambert and Frankie Stringer.
Lawrence Okolie vs. David Light
Michael Gomez Jr vs. Levi Giles
Frazer Clarke vs. Bogdan Dinu
Callum Simpson vs Celso Neves
Rhys Edwards vs. Brian Phillips
Karriss Artingstall vs. Linzi Buczynskyj
Samuel Antwi vs Omir Rodriguez
Shakiel Thompson vs. Robert Talarek
Aaron McKenna vs. Luke Ndafoluma
Harvey Lambert vs Casey Brown
Frankie Stringer vs. Jakub Laskowski
Challenge: Lawrence Okolie defends his WBO cruiserweight title tonight against David Light
/ PAHow to watch Okolie vs Light
TV channel: In the UK, Okolie vs Light will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Action from 19:00 and on Sky Sports Main Event from 20:00.
Live broadcast: Subscribers can also follow the action live online via the Sky Go app.
Live broadcast: You can follow coverage of the entire map on Standard Sport’s live fight night blog.
Okolie vs Light fight prediction
It very much feels like Okolie needs a statement performance tonight.
After an absence of more than a year after a rather horrible fight against Cieslak, all momentum appears to have been lost in his quest to follow the likes of Oleksandr Usyk in becoming the cruiserweight undisputed.
His ugly row with Hearn has grabbed far more headlines than his fighting prowess in recent weeks and months and attention must now turn back to the ring.
“The Sauce” needs to impress on his return to the ring
/ Getty ImagesLight is hardly the sort of opponent against whom a clear win would strike fear into the other champions of this class, Arsen Goulamirian, Jai Opetaia and the newly crowned Badou Jack, but nonetheless it will be badly needed if he is to secure those big union nights .
And we think he’ll get it due to an emphatic early stoppage against a big underdog.
Okolie wins by KO in round four.
Okolie vs Light weighing results
Okolie hit the 200-pound cruiserweight limit with a bang on the scales Friday afternoon, topping Light, who hit 198.5 pounds.
Okolie vs Light betting odds
Okolie wins: 1/10
Easy to win: 6/1
Draw: 20.1
Okolie wins by KO or TKO: 4/11
Okolie wins by points or decision: 7/2
Easy to win by knockout or TKO: 10/1
Easy victory on points or by decision: 13/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).