Tag: Michal Cieslak

Lawrence Okolie plans to target big-name heavyweights

Lawrence Okolie plans to target big-name heavyweights when he moves up in weight.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.

Lawrence Okolie will not waste any time pursuing big fights when his inevitable move to heavyweight occurs.

The current WBO cruiserweight champion is scheduled to defend his title against Poland’s Michal Cieslak on Sunday in London (DAZN). And although his immediate focus is dominated by Cieslak, Okolie is anticipating a move up in the near future.

Okolie plans to prove his dominance at 200 pounds via a fight with Mairis Briedis this year. After that, a shift to heavyweight for further honors is very much on his mind.

Okolie holds terrific advantages at cruiserweight due to his size. And when the leap to the land of the giants finally takes place, the 2016 Olympian will focus on the grandest names and prizes.

“I was moved fast at cruiserweight, and I expect to do the same at heavyweight,” Okolie told DAZN News. “I’m world champion at cruiserweight and that shows the level I’m at. And I don’t want to drop down just because I’m at heavyweight.

“I believe in my team and the people I’ve got around me and when the time comes to get to heavyweight, I want the best fights from the start.”

[lawrence-related id=24073,28340]

Lawrence Okolie plans to target big-name heavyweights

Lawrence Okolie plans to target big-name heavyweights when he moves up in weight.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published at DAZN.com.

Lawrence Okolie will not waste any time pursuing big fights when his inevitable move to heavyweight occurs.

The current WBO cruiserweight champion is scheduled to defend his title against Poland’s Michal Cieslak on Sunday in London (DAZN). And although his immediate focus is dominated by Cieslak, Okolie is anticipating a move up in the near future.

Okolie plans to prove his dominance at 200 pounds via a fight with Mairis Briedis this year. After that, a shift to heavyweight for further honors is very much on his mind.

Okolie holds terrific advantages at cruiserweight due to his size. And when the leap to the land of the giants finally takes place, the 2016 Olympian will focus on the grandest names and prizes.

“I was moved fast at cruiserweight, and I expect to do the same at heavyweight,” Okolie told DAZN News. “I’m world champion at cruiserweight and that shows the level I’m at. And I don’t want to drop down just because I’m at heavyweight.

“I believe in my team and the people I’ve got around me and when the time comes to get to heavyweight, I want the best fights from the start.”

[lawrence-related id=24073,28340]

Ilunga Makabu outpoints Michael Cieslak to win vacant 200-pound title

Ilunga Makabu rallied in the second half of the fight to outpoint Michal Cieslak and win a vacant cruiserweight title in in Africa.

A strange sequence of events ended with Ilunga Makabu winning a cruiserweight title in his native country.

Makabu signed a contract with promoter Don King in September only to sign a contract without him to fight Michal Cieslak for the vacant WBC title Friday in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, where King hoped to reprise the legendary Rumble in the Jungle featuring Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.

King had his lawyers send out a cease-and-desist letter to the WBC, hoping to stop the fight. Instead, some sort of deal was reached and the fight went on.

Cieslak (19-1, 13 KOs) was particularly effective early in the fight but Makabu (27-2, 24 KOs) gradually took control. He put Cieslak down in Round 4, although a rabbit punch seemed to be the key blow. Makabu went down himself in Round 5 when his glove touched the canvas after he absorbed a punch. However, Makabu got more work done in the later rounds to win a unanimous decision.

The scores were 114-112, 115-111 and 116-111.

Makabu, 32, was stopped by Tony Bellew in three rounds in his first attempt to win a major title, in 2016. He has now won eight consecutive fights.

Cieslak, 30, had never fought outside his native Poland.

Don King attempts to squelch Makabu-Cieslak title fight

Don King has sent a cease and desist letter to the WBC’s Mauricio Sulaiman in an effort to kill the Ilunga Makabu-Michal Cieslak fight.

Not so fast, says Don King.

A law firm representing Don King Promotions has sent a cease and desist letter to WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman in an effort to kill a cruiserweight title fight between Ilunga Makabu and Michal Cieslak, which is tentatively scheduled for later this month.

King claims Makabu is under contract with his company.

The letter reads in part:

“DKP is Makabu’s exclusive, world-wide promoter for any and all of Makabu’s professional boxing matches throughout the World and no one, other than DKP, is authorized to engage Makabu’s services.

“Demand is made upon the WBC to cancel the Makabu v. Cieslak bout and to make such cancellation public by noticing said cancellation on the WBC’s website. Since the WBC sanctioned this bout without DKP’s knowledge, DKP must conclude that the WBC communicated with others to arrange this bout so demand is made upon the WBC to immediately notify the person or persons the WBC communicated with in arranging this bout and inform them that the WBC is not sanctioning the Makabu v. Cieslak bout and that the bout is immediately cancelled.

“DKP further demands the WBC and others immediately cease and desist any and all actions or communications of any kind with Makabu. DKP has not and does not consent to Makabu’s participation in the Makabu v. Cieslak bout or any bout and has not and does not grant permission for anyone to engage Makabu’s services.

“Please be assured that we take this matter very seriously and intend to protect DKP’s rights. DKP demands that the WBC take the steps requested in this letter on or before Saturday, January 4, 2020 to cancel the Makabu v. Cieslak bout, pull the WBC’s sanctioning of the bout and to cease and desist any and all communications with any person, persons or entities, other than DKP, regarding Makabu and to confirm to the undersigned attorney by email … that you have received this letter and that you shall promptly comply with its demands.”

DKP has not indicated whether the WBC has responded to the letter.

The fight reportedly is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 25 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Makabu’s native country.

Makabu and Cieslak are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 by the WBC, respectively.