Lawrence Okolie made an emphatic return to motion as he knocked out Lukasz Rozanski within the opening spherical to win the WBC bridgerweight world title in Poland on Friday evening.Â
Victory sees Okolie change into a two-weight world champion as he fought for the primary time since relinquishing his WBO cruiserweight belt in defeat to Chris Billam-Smith final Might.
Okolie strikes to 20-1 as knowledgeable in his newest step in direction of the heavyweight division, whereas for Rozanski it marked a primary profession defeat.
The Hackney fighter floored Rozanski 3 times in fast and brutal vogue, the latter of which lastly prompted the referee to wave off the competition as the house favorite struggled to get again to his ft.
“This was the best moment in boxing for me, I’m super happy,” mentioned Okolie. “New weight, placing the KO again in Okolie.
“Typically I believe persons are joking, I say I am going to go in there spherical one and take a look at get the knockout. I went on the market and executed that.
“Joe Gallagher, hats off to him, I hated him the entire coaching camp, every single day there was one thing else, however every single day he was there for me.
“I hated every single second, but today made it all worthwhile.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
George Groves believes Deontay Wilder might take into account going through Lawrence Okolie sooner or later if he would not see a transparent path to a different heavyweight world title combat.
A visit to Poland has been touted as a possible banana pores and skin for Okolie in his bid to rebuild some profession momentum, Rozanski awaiting as a harmful full-throttle fighter who had shocked Alen Babic inside a spherical final yr.
All week Okolie vowed to take advantage of his opponent’s aggression, and did so with rapid impact when he delivered a few early warning pictures with a fierce proper hand within the opening exchanges.
It did not take lengthy to make the breakthrough, Okolie sending Rozanski tumbling to the canvas with a crashing proper hand to the face of the 38-year-old.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Joe Gallagher desires Lawrence Okolie to unify the WBC and WBA bridgerweight world titles after which face
Rozanski was shortly again on his ft earlier than crumbling beneath one other overhand proper on the ropes, this time nearly managing to beat the rely.
Third time was a appeal and one of the best shot of all, Okolie ending issues with a devastating uppercut to go away Rozanski on his palms and knees tangled between the ropes.
Referee Daniel Van de Wiele had seen sufficient, bringing issues to a swift conclusion to crown Okolie champion in entrance a silenced Polish crowd.
“My last fight was a great experience when I realised what it’s like feeling alone in the ring [against Billam-Smith],” mentioned Okolie.
“I did not feel alone, I felt like I wanted to win for the team. We came and got it done.”
Kevin Lerena now awaits as a possible necessary combat for Okolie ought to he elect to remain at bridgerweight, with coach Joe Gallagher eager to see him unify earlier than making the eventual step to heavyweight.
“I’d like to see a unification, there’s a WBA unification fight there,” mentioned Gallagher.
“There are smaller heavyweights there like Deontay Wilder, Lawrence is at those kind of weights.
“It is received to be a pure development however I might prefer to see him unify this primary.
“He’s full of energy, he can come back into the gym on Monday.”
