Okolie vs Chamberlain: Oleksandr Usyk hopes an improved Isaac Chamberlain beats Lawrence Okolie
Tuesday 30 January 2018 13:34, UK
Oleksandr Usyk is hoping his help will see Isaac Chamberlain win his 'British Beef' battle with Lawrence Okolie.
Usyk sparred the unbeaten Brixton cruiserweight as he prepared for the World Boxing Super Series semi-final that saw him out-point Mairis Briedis in a sensational Saturday night showdown.
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I want him to win and would definitely like to see him do it.
It was the second time Chamberlain had joined him in camp out in Ukraine and the London 2012 gold medallist expects his sparring partner to come out on top at The O2, on February 3, live on Sky Sports.
"He wants to improve, get better, every day and every time we spar together and I have seen him get better, step by step," Usyk exclusively told Sky Sports.
"I give him little bits of advice, especially if he asks. And he definitely hits hard for a cruiserweight.
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"I want him to win and would definitely like to see him do it."
Usyk won the Olympic heavyweight gold six years ago, when Anthony Joshua took the super-heavyweight version and is aware of Rio 2016 fighter Okolie, but only knows him being an Olympian and seeing some "short videos of him on the internet".
The Ukrainian has fond memories of London and says he will take on Joshua, who manages Okolie, if he moves up to heavyweight but can't make the trip to support Chamberlain.
"It would nice to go and watch, but after my fight (against Briedis), there is only one thing on my mind, my son's birthday on February 2.
"But I would like to thank Britain because that is where boxing was born and then built.
"The fans over there still follow me and watch me, so I will always try and show them my best."
Watch Lawrence Okolie vs Isaac Chamberlain, from The O2, London, Saturday, February 3, live on Sky Sports Main Event & Action.
