Okolie vs Chamberlain result: Lawrence Okolie scores two knockdowns as he earns wide unanimous points decision against Isaac Chamberlain
The Rio 2016 Olympian put his cruiserweight rival on the deck in the first and sixth round at the 02 Arena, winning on score cards of 98-89, 96-90 and 97-89
THE schoolboy row between Lawrence Okolie and Isaac Chamberlain was finally ended in a playground rumble.
A rivalry born out of fat jokes and social media insults was settled over ten rounds of pushes and shoves and one decent early right hand.
Brixton’s Chamberlain mocked up a fake Okolie CV in the build-up and posted it in his rival's local Hackney Gazette.
In response, the former fast-food worker drove a burger van down to Chamberlain’s South London gym and dished out free tickets and food to sway fans.
The result was just as juvenile and half as interesting - but these two prospects were trying to live up to great expectations way too early.
Chamberlain walked into the ring looking like a beaten boy, almost tearful and tiny in comparison to the former McDonalds burger flipper in the opposite corner.
Okolie danced his way into the ring – showing no sign of the once-taunted tubster who worked in fast food and was slow to take up the sport before beginning his rapid rise up the ranks.
A heavy Okolie jab was the first meaningful punch and the second one almost ended the fight.
Chamberlain was flattened in seconds – he never looked at the races - and the Okolie right hand he claimed was the only tool in his locker was rammed down his throat.
The 23-year-old beat the count but every shot the Hackney hunk threw looked punishing, while even Chamberlain’s defensive moves looked more desperate than assured.
Chamberlain’s corner told him to work harder but the task in front him looked too huge in 25-year-old giant Okolie.
Instead he tried to cheat and lost a point for constant holding in just the second round and he had his pride hurt as well as his chances when he was pushed to the deck in the third.
By the time the fourth round arrived, the crowd was booing and the referee was even looking bored as he told the lads to stop playing boxers and fight.
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In round six there was a rare moment of interest when Chamberlain was dropped again by an Okolie right hand but he was up quick to survive another 10-8 round.
Just as people realised they were missing Match of the Day, Okolie was deducted a point for holding in round nine.
If this fight was ever to make it on to MOTD it would be shown just after a 0-0 draw between Stoke and West Brom.
Like all classroom bullies, Okolie was too big and too strong and Chamberlain blew the chance to prove brain could ever beat brawn.
The intervals - refreshing as they were - were peppered with boos and punters were either dashing for late drinks or early exits.
There were wild swings and pokes and nudges and even Okolie lowered the tone by losing a point for holding.
The end arrived far too late, the grudge settled and bragging rights bagged to hang like an albatross around Okolie's neck for being a part of this cuddling contest.
With co-promoter and mentor Anthony Joshua sat ringside, Okolie walked away with a landside win - 98-89, 96-90 and 97-89 - and celebrated this stepping stone.
Let’s hope – like George Groves and James DeGale – these two warring neighbours go away and improve and revisit this when they have more than street cred at stake and more in their armoury than potential.