A heavyweight fight between Lawrence Okolie and Ebenezer Tetteh has been added to the December 21 card in Lagos, Nigeria.
Okolie, the WBC Silver belt holder, retires in opposition after his last outing against Kevin Lerena in July. At this stage in his heavyweight run, facing a 37-year-old fringe contender like Tetteh feels less like progression and more like treading water.
Why Tetteh was chosen
With the event staged in Lagos, the matchups make practical sense. Queensberry needed a willing opponent who could travel and fit the bill, and Ghana-born Tetteh was available. Logical, perhaps – but hardly inspiring. Ring Magazine broke the news of this battle.
The bigger question is what this says about Okolie’s long-term direction at heavyweight. These types of matchups only make sense if the goal is to have him win while he waits for a big opportunity to materialize against one of the division’s marquee names:
- Tyson Fury
- Anthony Joshua
- Oleksandr Usyk
Low risk, limited reward
This is a safe fight for the 6’5″ Okolie. Okolie’s size and control should neutralize Tetteh, who has struggled badly when stepping up in class and hasn’t shown the power or durability to trouble top-level heavyweights.
Tetteh’s notable step-up fights
- Frazer Clarke – 1st round KO loss
- Dillian Whyte – 7th round stoppage loss
- Daniel Dubois – 1st round TKO loss
The 32-year-old Okolie, a former WBO cruiserweight champion, has moved up to heavyweight for just three fights, all against lower-level opposition more intent on positioning than proving readiness for elite competition.
On paper, Tetteh’s record looks respectable. A closer look tells a different story.
His role in fights like this is familiar – believable enough on the surface, but ultimately chosen because the risk is minimal.
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Last updated on 14/12/2025
