Joshua urges fans to tune into ‘unmissable’ Okolie versus Chamberlain

Anthony Joshua has urged boxing fans not to miss the all-British showdown between Lawrence Okolie and Isaac Chamberlain this Saturday, reports metro.co.uk.

The rising cruiserweights put their undefeated statuses on the line to settle a long-running feud between the London pair.

Hackney’s Okolie and Brixton’s Chamberlain have enjoyed a tense build-up with the latter goading his opponent with a well-placed advert in the Hackey Gazette.

The ‘work wanted’ ripped into Okolie, mocking the 25-year-old’s education and past achievements.

The ad was just the latest attempt by both men to get under each other’s skin, with Okolie making a bet with Chamberlain’s coach that should his fighter fail to stop him he would retire from boxing. 

Joshua has helped guide Okolie through the pro ranks and expects his good friend to just about edge a close encounter.

‘When you are the power puncher and expected to KO everyone in round one or two, and then you find someone who is making you miss, it makes you question yourself,’ Joshua told Sky Sports.

‘In terms of predictions of who is going to win, I’m going to say Lawrence, because that’s my guy.

‘But in terms of how the fight will go, I think it will be epic and phenomenal, because they are going to push each other past round six, round eight, and go into the championship rounds.’

Joshua has been dipping his toes into the promotion world by helping to hype Okolie versus Chamberlain and will be ringside for the bout on Saturday.

Okolie (7-0) and Chamberlain (9-0) both boast a stellar knockout rate, and it will be the first time either man has headlined their own fight night.

Ted Cheeseman leads the undercard with a fight agianst Carson Jones, while Reece Bellotti is set to defend his Commonwealth featherweight strap against Ben Jones.

Heavyweight Nick Webb, middleweight Felix Cash, super-flyweight Charlie Edwards are all on the ticket, as well as Okolie’s fellow Team GB fighter, Joshua Buatsi.