Monday 29 January 2018 09:50, UK
Lawrence Okolie has laughed off Isaac Chamberlain's newspaper prank as good "banter" and says his rival is "scared".
Chamberlain paid for a slot in Thursday's Hackney Gazette which requested an alternative job for fellow Londoner Okolie following their 'British Beef' grudge fight at The O2 on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
Okolie took the joke well and told Sky Sports: "As far as banter goes, that is up there."
But the Hackney fighter insists that he is mentally tougher than Chamberlain and suggested his opponent hides away when it matters.
"He is so scared," said Okolie. "He likes to lie and put himself in his shell."
The former Team GB fighter is excited to finally settle the long-running feud with his rival from Brixton and is predicting an entertaining bout.
"It is going to be very direct, very explosive," he said. "It is going to be exciting for my friends and family and not so exciting for my opponent's.
"It ends in a knockout."
Chamberlain claims Okolie started the war of words between the pair and challenged the 25-year-old to follow-up what he says.
Addressing Okolie directly, Chamberlain said: "You have said a lot in the build-up to this fight. Make sure you back up what you say because talk is cheap. See you on February 3.
"He is one of those guys that talks a lot, a bit too much. He needs to be put down.
"He definitely started it, calling me out on social media when he was turning professional."
Watch Lawrence Okolie vs Isaac Chamberlain, from The O2, London, Saturday, February 3, live on Sky Sports Main Event & Action.
