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The ambitions are high and might—to meet his heavyweight sparring partners in the ring as equals and become a world champion in a third weight class. These might cause some discomfort for many. But not for Lawrence Okolie. After succeeding at cruiserweight and bridgerweight, he has set his eyes on the heavyweight division, crowded by the likes of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury—interestingly, his sparring partners. But will he be successful in his endeavor, or will he lament leaving the old crowns behind?

The fans will find answers to these questions when they witness the former two-division champion making his heavyweight debut on Saturday, December 7 at Wembley Arena in London against Hussein Muhamed. The Queensberry Promotion card offers fans a thrilling encounter, with fireworks on the offer. Before the two take center stage, let’s have a look at how they stack up against each other.

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Lawrence Okolie vs. Hussein Muhamed: Tale of Tape

Okolie, 31, has captivated fans with his distinct fighting style, which revolves around defense. His tall and heavy stature shouldn’t fool you, as he is quick on his feet, which allows him to dance around the ring, and his ring generalship makes him elusive. The same has allowed him to rack up a splendid record of 20-1 with 15 KOs. The sole loss came against Chris Billam-Smith in 2023, but he bounced back strongly. Despite the Hackney native’s defense-first policy, you should look out for his overhand right, which carries one-punch KO power. You can look at his KO ratio of 75% and make sense of the same.

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In addition, the former world champion’s body dimensions allow him to control the fight’s distance and range. He stands tall at 6’5″ (196 cm) and has a reach of 82″ (210 cm), which allows him to launch attacks behind a jab. And that jab is sharp. Given that Okolie took up boxing only when he turned 17, there is an unorthodox flavor to his fights, which makes him a tough fighter to read. So, where does it leave Muhamed?

Muhamed, 33, is the older of the two but has fewer fights under his belt. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t left a mark in his career. The German native is your typical heavyweight fighter who brings in aggression. Toss a blend of caution and a calculative approach, and you have his fighting style. He has strong fundamentals, and the same is reflected in his boxing record of 18-1 with 14 KOs. His KO ratio of 77.78% might put anyone on the alert.

However, it’s his disc line one should be afraid of, as he only unloads heavy punches after seizing openings. Besides, the Cologne native shares an identical frame of 6’5″ (196 cm), which could make the fight a thrilling matchup. Interestingly, his reach is not listed on the major website. He will carry the weight advantage, as he registered 264 lbs when he last stood on scales, compared to Okolie’s 223 lbs, who is making his heavyweight debut. The question is whether Muhamed’s comfort and fighting style will make Okolie sweat.

Prediction: Who wins it?

What makes Okolie a dangerous fighter to face? The British boxer knows how to impose his physicality and resorts to clinching not as a means to catch a breath but to wear them down and limit their striking options. That’s not all. You can also see him landing clean and effective blows, which usually have no counterattack options available for his foes. While he could be vulnerable against an aggressive fighter who tends to close the distance and put pressure on him, Muhamed is not the one who does it.

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Muhamed has shown the ability to do it, but will he abandon his tested and proven fighting approach? He has the boxing acumen to finish the fight or take it deep, depending on the situation. However, this time around, he needs to put the peddle on the gas tank and unload heavy blows while coming forward and showcasing his excellent ring control. Can he do it?

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Surely. But we have Okolie winning this, given his resume, activity, and recent record. He is also adding more pounds to his frame, which might also amplify his power. Conversely, it might also slow him down, making him more open to heavy blows, which Muhamed might seize and bag the win.

What do you make of this coming fight between Lawrence Okolie and Hussein Muhamed? Who do you think will leave the arena with a win? Let us know in the comments below.

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