Unlike other fighters who would have been satisfied with any win following their first professional loss, Lawrence Okolie, who has a history of winning fights but losing fans, had a clear objective for his WBC bridgerweight title challenge in Poland on May 24. It wasn’t enough for him to simply defeat the champion, Lucasz Rozanski, he needed to do so in a remarkable and attention-grabbing way. Okolie needed to make a statement and revive his career.
This was all part of the plan going in, something to which Okolie alluded when speaking to Boxing News on Tuesday evening. He then confirmed the details of the plan just hours before the fight when claiming his target – that is, his ideal result – would be a first-round stoppage, ensuring both a quick night and a return to the power-punching exploits of old.
Okolie’s ability to achieve this impressive outcome by stopping Rozanski in the first round, after knocking him down three times, is truly remarkable. It not only demonstrates Okolie’s regained self-confidence after losing his WBO cruiserweight title last year, but also highlights his undeniable punching power. Without a doubt, Rozanski had never experienced such a powerful and accurate punch before, as evident from the expression on his face after the first devastating right hand from Okolie. Although Rozanski complained about some illegal hits to the back of his head, the truth is that Okolie’s size, reach, precision, and sharpness made it nearly impossible for Rozanski to defend against that specific shot – the right hand. Every time Okolie unleashed it, Rozanski was visibly shaken, and it didn’t take long for him to be knocked down due to the sheer force of the punch. The first knockdown was clean, the second was a bit messy, but the third was undeniably the most impressive. Okolie transformed his straight right hand into an uppercut, breaking through Rozanski’s defense and causing him to contort along the bottom rope, leaving him disoriented and confused.
To his credit, Rozanski managed to get back on his feet. However, upon seeing the champion’s eyes, referee Daniel Van de Wiele quickly understood that it would be wise to prevent the imminent. Consequently, within three minutes, he made the sensible call to stop the fight.
Thirteen months ago, the situation was completely different. Rozanski managed to surprise and defeat Alen Babic early on, securing the WBC bridgerweight crown. However, tonight was a different story. Okolie proved to be on a different level than both Rozanski and Babic. It became evident early on that Okolie’s skills surpassed theirs. It is worth noting that this unique bridgerweight weight class, positioned between cruiserweight and heavyweight, allowed for a fight like this to happen. Unfortunately, this world title fight turned out to be more of a mismatch rather than a true test of skills.
The future for Okolie, with a record of 20-1 (15), is uncertain. While his recent performance showcased his punching power and athleticism, it also highlighted the lack of competition in the bridgerweight division. This weight class is still in its early stages and lacks sufficient talent. It would be unfortunate if Okolie, who claims to have moved on from the cruiserweight division, stays in bridgerweight for too long. He expressed hope that other British cruiserweights may transition to bridgerweight, but this might just be wishful thinking.
On Tuesday, he expressed his thoughts on the bridgerweight belt, stating, “I believe that if any of them have the desire to step up and take on the challenge, they are more than welcome to do so. Both Riakporhe and Billam-Smith might face difficulties with their weight, but if they are willing to compete in the bridgerweight division, we can certainly arrange that. However, the final decision is yet to be determined.”
Regardless, Okolie deserves praise tonight for not only winning a crucial fight, but also for doing it in the necessary manner. It is always easier said than done for any fighter, but especially so for Lawrence Okolie, who carries high expectations and has previously had unsatisfactory wins. This victory could be considered the most important of his career thus far.
