Lawrence Okolie annihilates last-minute opponent on Anthony Joshua undercard dropping him three times in two rounds

Lawrence Okolie looked a class above as the main supporting to act to Anthony Joshua on Saturday night.

The 27-year-old was meant to be fighting Krzysztof Glowacki for the vacant WBO cruiserweight title but after his opponent tested positive for COVID-19, he instead took on unbeaten Pole Nikodem Jezewski – at 19-0-1 – looking to remain in contention.

Lawrence Okolie proved he is on course to be a world champion

It took the Brit no time at all to establish himself against Jezewski has the rangy cruiserweight landed searing jabs from the get-go, forcing his foe in retreat.

After landing a body shot you could hear from home, Jezewski hit the mat in just 70 seconds.

He answered the count, but Okolie continued to diligently go about his business and kept throwing those same jabs and straights that nobody has found a formula to just yet.

Jezewski was down once again before the round was out, but somehow he answered the count again and the ref allowed him to go back to his corner.

Lawrence Okolie dominated his opponent

Almost immediately as the second round began, Okolie had Jezewski dancing once again and that Irish jig was a prelude to what would happen just a minute later as a straight shot through the guard put the Pole down again.

He managed to get up again – and fair play to him for doing so – but this time the referee said he had suffered enough and called it off.

Okolie is now 16-0 with 12 KOs and carries high expectations with him. After the bout, the Hackney fighter made it clear he’s firmly focused on getting his world title shot.

He said: “I knew I had to put on a good performance to get myself in line for the title next year and Eddie Hearn pulled me aside yesterday said ‘I want a knockdout’ and I said ‘Don’t worry, I got you.’

“That’s another undefeated on my record. Now I get to flex for two weeks and then back into camp for that world title.

You’d never know Okolie’s opponent was unbeaten as the Brit blasted past him

Does he believe he would have won the world title tonight had he got that fight? Yes he does, and that’s partly down to the fighter he’s becoming under Shane McGuigan.

“100 percent. If I hit any cruiserweight clean, they’re going to go,” he said. “And I believe that Krzysztof Glowacki was there for me to take out.

“Unfortunately, his countryman had to take it today and it gives me more time to prepare. That’s a bit of ring rust gone and now I’m onto the next.

“All the trainers that I’ve had have played their part in this process, but Shane at the moment has got my punching very hard and he’s got good mentality as a match man.

“A lot of my fights could have been like this, but there was mindset stuff that I hadn’t dealt with that I have now. So I think this is how I’m going to be fighting from here on out.”