Boxing News: Lawrence Okolie Prepares for Bridgerweight Title Clash
Lawrence Okolie, the former WBO cruiserweight champion, is set to take on Poland’s Lukasz Rozanski, 15-0 (14 KOs), for the WBC bridgerweight title on Friday night in Rzeszow, Poland. Okolie, who had been entitled to a contracted rematch with Chris Billam-Smith, has now set his sights on the bridgerweight division as he looks to move up to the heavyweight category.
“He’s good, he’s dangerous, he poses a lot of threats and there’s only one way I can lose this fight, I’ve got to be prepared to go through the fire and we’re good to go,” Okolie said, acknowledging the challenges he will face against the undefeated Rozanski.
Okolie, who walks around at around 240 lbs but can easily push 260 lbs, has decided to move up from the cruiserweight division, where he had previously reigned as the WBO champion. The 31-year-old boxer explained that the rematch with Billam-Smith, who dethroned him last May, did not materialize, leading him to pursue the bridgerweight title.
“From about November, December it was kind of like on the cards [fighting at bridgerweight], when I couldn’t get the rematch with CBS that I wanted, it was kind of like if I can’t get this one, you need to offer me something else, and this was floated and then it became a reality,” Okolie said.
The Boxxer-promoted fighter is now focused on making the most of his opportunity in the bridgerweight division, which he believes can bring more attention to the weight class.
“Every weight class has good fighters and good hard fights; it’s just about bringing attention to it. If it was vacant it might be different, but I’m looking to try to beat an undefeated world champion,” he added.
Okolie’s transition to the bridgerweight division has also led to a change in his training setup, as he has started working with Manchester’s Joe Gallagher after a chance encounter during a sparring session with Joseph Parker. The boxer praised Gallagher’s approach and believes the new partnership will pay dividends in his upcoming fight against Rozanski.
As Okolie prepares to enter the “lion’s den” in Poland, he is determined to make the most of this opportunity and secure the bridgerweight title, which he hopes will pave the way for his eventual move to the heavyweight division.
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