FOR a fighter who has built his entire career on the basis of quality over quantity, Lawrence Okolie takes another significant step up in class as he aims to become one of the least experienced world champions in British boxing history.
The Hackney cruiserweight has had just 41 total fights in his life – 26 amateur and 15 pro – and yet will contest the vacant WBO championship of the world behind closed doors at Wembley Arena on Saturday night.
Taking on talented Polish southpaw Krzysztof Glowacki, Okolie’s meteoric rise to boxing’s top table is nothing short of astounding.
Back in 2012 he was overweight, uninspired and fumbling his way through his A Levels whilst serving up burgers and fries from behind the counter at McDonald’s when he watched Anthony Joshua claim super-heavyweight gold.
That’s when he decided to change his life and give boxing a go. Incredibly, four years later, he stepped into the ring in Beijing an Olympian.
DYNAMITE DEBUT @Lawrence_tko showed from his first fight in 2017 he was coming with bad intentions
Okolie v Glowacki Saturday 7pmpic.twitter.com/4PGTjgNkzI
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) March 17, 2021
“I want to unify the cruiserweight division, make my mark,” says the 28-year-old, who accepts his long-term future lies up at heavyweight, alongside his idol AJ. “But there is no unification if I have no belt. I have to go in there and win. And win well.”
However, winning well isn’t something fight fans readily associate with the 6’5” Londoner. Sure, he’s got 12 stoppage returns from his 15 pro wins, but Okolie’s punch-grab, wrestle-heavy style has brought a fair amount of criticism.
Domestic clashes against Isaac Chamberlain and Matty Askin in particular got prime time TV coverage, but were boring distance fights dominated by the referee urging both fighters to actually fight.
Okolie, to his credit, has stopped all five of his last opponents and switched camps to work with exciting young trainer Shane McGuigan. But the quality of opposition has been way off the pace to what he can expect on Saturday night.
Looking forward to see Glowacki knockout Okolie and reclaim his title next Saturday.pic.twitter.com/mwRInC20tR
— Cerebral Vigilante (@Delisketo) March 14, 2021
Glowacki has just two losses on his 33-fight record; to former undisputed champion and now heavyweight contender Olexansder Usyk and, more recently, a controversial foul-ridden TKO to the new number one cruiserweight in the world, Mairis Bredis.
From fast food crew to novice amateur boxer, Universities’ champion, GB podium squad, Beijing Olympics, unbeaten pro and now world title contender. Okolie’s assent in boxing reads like a Hollywood movie script, but can it have a happy ending?
Okolie is a real talent and has the kind of power to hurt anybody. But taking a fight of this magnitude without a vociferous London crowd behind him and against an angry all-action southpaw is one hell of a challenge.
If he can make a dent in Glowacki early on then we could witness something quite special. But safe money has to be on the Pole causing a home upset and proving that if you take shortcuts, you get cut short.
TIP:
Okolie via TKO 4-6 or Glowacki on points – 7/2 or 15/2
