Lawrence Okolie is a potential heavyweight superstar in the making after capturing the WBC Silver Heavyweight championship.
Lawrence Okolie defeated Hussein Muhamed in his professional heavyweight debut with a wild first-round knockout at the Wembley Arena. The 30-year-old made his first appearance as a heavyweight after competing for the majority of his career at cruiserweight.
Known for his trademark pace and pressure, Okolie didn’t slow down in his heavyweight debut despite adding on extra weight. With just a minute remaining in the first round with Muhamed, Okolie landed a massive right hand that sent Muhamed collapsing to the canvas.
Okolie added the WBC silver heavyweight title to his collection with the victory over Muhamed. After the championship win, Okolie solidified himself on the path toward potential high-profile fights later on in his career.
Lawrence Okolie flattens opponent in hyped heavyweight debut
“Now that I’ve been putting on the weight, enjoying training camp, I can be a lot more explosive,” Okolie said after the win. “It’s showing in the fights, as soon as I start hitting these guys, they start going. I’m ready for the best in the world at any weight.” (h/t Daily Mail)
After suffering his first professional loss against Chris Billam-Smith last year, Okolie won the WBC bridgerweight title with a buzzer-beating knockout of Lukasz Rozanski last May. Before the loss to Billam-Smith, Okolie won his first 19 professional fights, including a modest reign as the WBO cruiserweight champion.
Okolie silenced some of his detractors after his move to heavyweight, following a stunning transformation at the weigh-in. Ahead of the Muhamed fight, Okolie appeared to pack on a lot of fat before making his heavyweight debut, causing concern among fans and pundits.
After tallying one of the most horrific knockouts of the year, Okolie seems to have found a new home at heavyweight and could be on a collision course with some of the top names in the division.
Lawrence Okolie ushers in a new era of boxing heavyweights
Despite the massive weight gain, Okolie showed off speed and precision uncommon for a heavyweight boxer. Before the fight, he promised to show off his creativity and skill level in the ring for this new chapter of his career.
As Okolie continues to face an increased level of competition, he’ll face some of the top heavyweight talents in the world, especially after earning the WBC silver heavyweight title. He’s right in the middle of his physical prime, making him a possible headache for future heavyweight opponents.
Okolie is a name to watch heading into 2025 and beyond. After silencing concerns about his physical transformation, Okolie could be at the beginning of a takeover at heavyweight.