David Light Gets a Shot at WBO Champ Lawrence Okolie
Newly crowned WBO International cruiserweight titlist David “The Great White” Light (20-0, 12KO) has received the dream shot of a lifetime at WBO champion Lawrence “The Sauce” Okolie (18-0, 14KO). The Great White received news from the WBO, after winning a controversial split decision, that the teams were issued papers to start negotiations.
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“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee hereby orders the parties herein the commencement of negotiations for the subject matter bout. The parties are granted 20 days upon issuance of this letter to negotiate and reach an agreement, or a purse bid proceedings will be ordered.”
Light has to be over the moon with the news of a title shot within his grasp. Named a 3Kings Boxing prospect to watch, he has fought his way to the top of the pile, starting with a second-round knockout victory over Lui’ Te’o in 2017.
THE WBO CHAMPION’S PUBLIC DISPUTE WITH HIS PROMOTER
In 2021, The Sauce turned in a career performance with a six-round stoppage of former champion Krzysztof Glowacki for the vacant title. He has since made two successful title defenses and was trying to make a unification with IBF champion Jai Opetaia.
Okolie has been burning up social media as of late for a very publicized dispute with his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing. The WBO champion has since deleted the most offensive tweets. Notably, he compared Hearn to Leonardo DiCaprio’s character of a slave master in the movie Django Unchained.
EDDIE HEARN WAS NOT AMUSED
Hearn was thrown off guard by this especially considering all the work that went into making Okolie a champion. The British promoter, speaking to the media, disapproved of the comparison. He also explained that the WBO champion has one more fight left with the company.
“He’s got one fight left with us. So, I was very disappointed with his comments.”
Okolie’s last post on the matter seems like there are some rocky feelings that haven’t been hashed out.
Win or lose, Okolie will have seen his last days fighting under the Matchroom boxing banner. Furthermore, he will need to get his head straight coming in against Light. The International titlist has proven to be a hungry, tough, and determined competitor capable of pulling off an upset.
By: Garrisson Bland
