Brixton’s Isaac Chamberlain wins British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles

BY JACK BURGESS

Isaac Chamberlain put on a dominant display to seal a unanimous points victory over Michael Lawal to becoming the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion.

All the judges scored for the Brixton fighter – 119-111 and 118-111 (twice).

Brixton-born Chamberlain was able to control the tempo of the fight from the early rounds, using his speed and intelligence to evade Lawal, who was always looking to utilise his vaunted power.

Lawal came forward and swung a right hand in round two which Chamberlain was able to manoeuvre and threw a successful left hook, before throwing a flurry of punches with Lawal against the ropes.

The 29-year-old Chamberlain continued to grow in confidence and stature moving into round three, with Chamberlain and Lawal both clinching, Chamberlain looked to unleash a series of uppercuts – which visibly had an impact on Lawal.

Moving into round five, Lawal repeatedly threw a series of right-hands although very few landed. The standout was a cross-right from Lawal which connected cleanly with Chamberlain but the South Londoner was able to regroup.

An accurate right hand also landed on Chamberlain’s jaw in the eighth, but Lawal was unable to capitalise with any real follow-up combinations to rattle his opponent.

The jab was used by Chamberlain to great effect throughout. He hit Lawal with a left hook to the body in round nine, before landing a right uppercut.

It was clear going into the latter stages of the fight that the only way of a Lawal victory was through a knockout, which saw him routinely attempt to step forward and throw, but ultimately he was unable to land anything of significance on Chamberlain as the fight approached the final round.

The 12th round saw Lawal go for broke, knowing that a points victory was completely out of the question. But Chamberlain’s elusive movement and refusal to be pinned down saw him close out the round with ease.

Chamberlain ended the fight by ducking a right-hook from Lawal and celebrating victory before the bell had gone.

“I didn’t have the best amateur career, I had nine fights, they chucked me in the deep end and I kept going,” he told Sky Sports.

“When I was younger I had low self-esteem but I said I’d believe in the ability I have. Even though I had niggles coming to this fight, I said ‘it’s now or never’.

“I’m very grateful.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD