LAWRENCE OKOLIE can breathe a sigh of aid.
After years of speaking about shifting to heavyweight he’s now formally part of the game’s marquee division.
The previous WBO Cruiserweight and WBC Bridgerweight champion made it official with a double announcement final month. Having fought beneath the Matchroom and Boxxer banners in recent times Okolie is now a Queensberry fighter and the newest addition to a plethora of heavyweight expertise which incorporates Daniel Dubois and Moses Itauma.
Okolie will make his debut for Frank Warren’s outfit on December 7 in opposition to Hussein Mohamed, 18-1 (14 KOs), at Wembley Area.
Over Zoom Okolie spoke to Boxing Information about his happiness at lastly becoming a member of the heavyweights.
“No extra making weight,” he stated.
“I’m nonetheless getting aggro for consuming muffins and stuff, which I assumed was the entire level of heavyweight, however I suppose not.”
The dialog shifted to cake with Okolie’s desire being a Victoria Sponge or Purple Velvet. However Okolie is aware of, after being caught consuming one, that he can’t simply fill his face with no matter he desires regardless of being freed from the chore of constructing weight.
“My supervisor was within the restaurant that we’ve,” he recalled.
“He’s my enterprise companion and has entry to the cameras. I used to be there, simply minding my enterprise. I ordered an omelette, another fine details. I’m coming to begin sparring and I stated, ‘, oh my god, there’s a brand new cake in right here, let me attempt it.’ After which I received a Purple Velvet. I used to be consuming, and it was wonderful. And I received a message and he’s like, ‘Cake for breakfast?’ And I used to be like, ‘The place is he?’ And I realised he may see the cameras, so I needed to cease consuming.
“I’ve to delay gratification, after which after camp, I’ll have a giant Christmas and New Yr, after which go into an enormous combat. However I’m not overlooking this man. I’ve to beat him.”
Okolie has loved a satisfying profession to date with a few bumps alongside the way in which. The previous Workforce GB member and 2016 Olympian is aware of all too effectively about huge combat nights and easy methods to deal with the large event. However the heavyweight division is nearly a separate entity and creates a special sort of magic on combat evening.
During the last 12 months we’ve seen the game’s huge guys come alive with numerous match-ups between prime contenders and world title fights which culminated in Oleksandr Usyk changing into undisputed champion. It’s a memorable interval for a weight class that this century has typically been disappointing.
Okolie, as a fan, has been keeping track of the goings on.
“When it was AJ, Wilder and Fury – in the event that they boxed one another – you’re fortunate sufficient to get a combat with certainly one of them. Whereas now, you see lots of people getting nice alternatives, lots of people are having nice fights. There’s been nice combat after nice combat within the heavyweight division. You may’t escape from a terrific combat within the heavyweight division. There’s fatigue, there’s puncher energy, there’s grit, there’s willpower.”
Successful the WBC Bridgerweight belt has rewarded Okolie with a prime 5 heavyweight rating. His one-round blowout of Lukasz Rozanski in Might was a confidence booster for ‘The Sauce’ after the frustration in Bournemouth 18 months in the past in opposition to Chris Billam-Smith. Dropping his world cruiserweight title, nonetheless, might but show to be a blessing in disguise for Okolie.
When the primary bell sounds for Okolie’s heavyweight debut Joe Gallagher will probably be within the nook for his or her second combat collectively. At first it appeared an unlikely partnership however Okolie’s harmful win in opposition to Rozanski confirmed indicators – albeit in opposition to inferior opposition – that the Manchester coach may carry out the heavy handed knockout artist which Okolie has proven glimpses of prior to now.
Okolie is having fun with a brand new lease of life beneath Gallagher.
Okolie revealed what Gallagher has instilled in him throughout their time collectively.
“It’s extra psychological than the rest. As a result of one factor that he drilled into me – and I need to present in December after which going forwards – is I’ve received all this potential and I’m tremendous snug. I put in actually good work, I can tackle data effectively and execute. However then typically I’d overthink stuff.
“What I discovered is like, ‘Oh, I would like to search out the proper counter.’ Or if I do, what’s he going to do? I’m simply doing an excessive amount of algebra and I’m enjoying 3D chess whenever you solely have to play chess. After which you find yourself coming unstuck as a result of the opposite particular person’s not enjoying that very same recreation, they’re simply attempting to have a combat. So that you overthink what they’re doing and then you definitely miss out on alternatives to do your factor. So it’s actually good.”
Those that have adopted Okolie’s profession know there are two sides to him. One the place he lets his fingers go and the opposite that turns fights into an eyesore. So will we see the previous shifting ahead?
“Undoubtedly. I’ve received no different alternative,” he replied.
“The problem I’m going to have with heavyweights is that they’re all going to be larger than I’m 9 occasions out of ten. They’re going to perhaps be heavier handed and so they’re going to expect to form of step on me like, ‘Oh, he’s only a cruiserweight.’ So I’m going to want to realize their respect. And the one method to try this is with motion. I’m not going to speak myself into, hey, when you hit me, watch what I do. I would like to truly present it within the ring. So the advantage of that’s it’s going to pressure me. If I need to defend myself and win fights, I’m going to must put in some injury. After which hopefully acquire a fame at heavyweight.”
There’s a extra relaxed nature to Okolie. A happiness, a smile that has been lacking. Maybe attending to heavyweight has been the reply all alongside. However to get there he has needed to endure like all fighters. To undergo and to sacrifice is a part of the deal however Okolie is right here and needs to be an issue for the heavyweight division. Okolie has his personal concept why he feels totally different these days.
“I believe boxing is extra about proving stuff to myself, primary. After which quantity two, clearly not having to make weight is very large. And quantity three, being the underdog. It’s created an entire new, thrilling really feel.
“It’s harmful. I really feel like an adrenaline junkie. Even the combat I’m going into subsequent, though I anticipate to cease this man, it’s nonetheless a 250-260 pound man.
“He’s going to be within the ring throwing punches, and he’s going to be knocked out. I really feel like an adrenaline junkie, the hazard issue’s there. However once I win, how good is it going to look? Versus once I was beating all of those laborious, f*****g cruiserweights from Jap Europe.”