Lawrence Okolie Blitzes Past Ebenezer Tetteh

Lawrence Okolie forced a second-round retirement from Ebenezer Tetteh in their heavyweight clash, as he turned his attention to Moses Itauma.

Okolie (23-1, 17 KOs) entered the ring at a career-high 271 lbs, looking vastly different from the lean cruiserweight champion who dominated the WBO ranks from 2021 to 2023. This “new-look” Okolie relied on sheer size and roughhouse tactics to overwhelm the 37-year-old Tetteh from the opening bell. He dropped Tetteh with a right hand within the first 15 seconds. However, Okolie drew heavy criticism from observers for repeatedly targeting the back of Tetteh’s head with rabbit punches.

In round two, Okolie landed a heavy right to the temple, followed by a left hook that appeared to land behind the ear, sending Tetteh to the canvas. The punishment was enough for the Ghanaian journeyman, as he did not answer the bell for the third. In his post-fight interview, Okolie indicated his wish to face Moses Itauma. With Itauma scheduled to face Jermaine Franklin, the fight could play out if Moses wins.