THERE has lengthy been an expectation that Lawrence Okolie would at some point step up from cruiserweight and search riches and success in a second weight class, but few would have anticipated that weight class to be bridgerweight.
That, nevertheless, is the place Okolie will discover himself in Poland on May 24, when he challenges native fighter Lukasz Rozanski for the WBC bridgerweight belt.
Should he win, Okolie will after all turn into a two-weight world champion, with the WBC bridgerweight belt added to the WBO belt he received as a cruiserweight. And but, when individuals spoke of Okolie finally stepping up a division and boxing for a second world title, they imagined him doing so at heavyweight slightly than in a division brief on each historical past and competitors.
Still, for Okolie, 19-1 (14), this could possibly be the good transfer. After all, final yr he struggled attending to grips with Chris Billam-Smith, who dethroned him in Bournemouth, and a rematch with Billam-Smith now seems a non-starter, with Billam-Smith set to combat one other outdated foe, Richard Riakporhe, as an alternative. That leaves Okolie with the prospect of transferring to heavyweight, a division wherein he would discover not solely greater males however a few of the most harmful fighters on the planet.
At least at bridgerweight, the place boxers should weight between 200 and 224 kilos, Okolie will discover extra winnable fights and a belt available. That received’t essentially imply he makes some huge cash there, or positive factors numerous fanfare for successful this specific belt, however as a stepping stone to greater choices – both returning to cruiserweight or going the entire approach to heavyweight – it is arduous to be too essential of it.
Also, Lukasz Rozanski, though no world-beater, has received 15 fights in a row and is coming off one-round demolitions of each Artur Szpilka and Alen Babic. If nothing else, then, all of it appears to be like good on poster, notably in the event you can keep away from the very fact Rozanski is 38 years of age and has by no means earlier than boxed exterior Poland.
Source link
