Lawrence Okolie destroyed Ebenezer Tetteh in clear mismatch

Lawrence Okolie destroyed overmatched journeyman Ebenezer Tetteh

London's Lawrence Okolie (23-1, 17 KOs) destroyed a dispirited Ebenezer Tetteh (23-4, 20 KOs), stopping matters before the third round in their heavyweight main event on Sunday night, December 21, at the Amir Khan-promoted ‘Chaos in the Ring II’,  in Lagos, Nigeria.

It became the ageing Ghanaian's third consecutive KO loss, having been stopped in one by Frazer Clarke earlier this year and forced to retire after seven rounds with Dillian Whyte in Gibraltar last December.

The two-weight world champion, Okolie, immediately hurt Tetteh with big straight right hands in the opening round, lining the shots up with his jab and landing with ease on the still target.

The 37-year-old Tetteh opened up with big left hooks, but were crudely telegraphed and over loaded. When he tried to fire off another left hook in the final 30 of the opener, Okolie was able counter with such a big right hand, Tetteh was sent flying backwards with one leg in the air, but somehow stayed standing.

The second round was just target practice for the Londoner. Tetteh tried to fight back, but wasn't able to land much. A scrappy left hook around the back of the head dropped Tetteh in the second stanza. Back to his feet, Okolie landed more shots on the back of his head, causing him to complain to the referee as fell back into the ropes, but his pleas were completely ignored.

In the final seconds of the second, he slumped against the ropes looking very forlorn. The commentator described him as a sitting duck and the African looked like he had no fight left in him at all.

Okolie weighed 271 lbs and looked a far cry from his cruiserweight days when he was sculptured and toned as the WBO titleholder during 2021 to 2023.

The 33-year-old from Hackney said, “That’s the position I’m used to being in, champion of the world. In 2026, I’m guaranteeing it.”

Okolie has readily accepted the challenge of fighting fellow Brit Moses Itauma next in a WBO heavyweight world title eliminator.

Tony Yoka vs Patrick Korte

In yet another mismatch, Frenchman Tony Yoka (15-3, 12 KOs) knocked out German Patrick Korte (23-6, 19 KOs) in one round, becoming the quickest stoppage win of his pro career so far.

The taller Yoka begun the contest with a jab to the middle of Korte, bouncing lightly on his toes, looking fluid and relaxed. Korte put his head down and pushed Yoka back to the ropes, missing with a right hand over the top of the head as Yoka pivoted away to his left. Yoka was on the backfoot, but then landed a big left hook in the first minute. The Frenchman's ramrod jab was accurate and piercing and couldn't miss as it heavily rocked the German's head back. Korte's nose was already busted as Yoka repeatedly landed with ease through the middle of Korte's weak guard.

After landing five straight jabs, Korte rushed forward with a big hook only for Yoka to land a lovely right uppercut to the chin that floored the 41-year-old heavily. A former IBO Continental heavyweight champion, Korte stared up from the floor as referee Mikael Hook delivered the count, but the towel promptly came in from the corner to end the contest at just 1:22 of the first round.

Good confidence boost for the former European Union heavyweight champion from Paris, but 15th victory of his pro career will not be effective for a big fight next. The lack of rounds and substandard opposition would not be able to prepare him for a world level opponent in 2026. A better match and sterner test will be required in the New Year if he is to challenge for any world honours.