LAWRENCE OKOLIE hardly had an easy introduction to the Olympic Games. His second contest at Rio 2016 pitched him in against Erislandy Savon, the brilliant Cuban who had been one of the most impressive 91kgs in the run up to these Olympics.
The Hackney heavyweight had an uncertain start but pulled himself back into the bout. It wasnโt enough, however, to salvage a points decision.
โSix weeks beforehand I lost by stoppage to him, so then getting him in my second fight in the Olympics, it showed me I had a lot of mental strength, bravery, not to let the position overrule me even though I knew millions of people would be watching, there was a large crowd,โ Lawrence said. โIt showed me I progressed massively since the last time when I fought him six weeks beforehand. It showed me Iโm on an upturn and upwards learning curve, if that makes sense.
โFirst round [in Rio], I donโt think it was a serious knockdown, but when I was knocked down I felt like obviously, as he stopped me before, โIs it not a fluke?โ I had told myself it was a fluke him getting the win. Then I had a choice where I was going to go in that round. Was I going to let this be like the last time I boxed or am I going to show all the stuff Iโve been working on and show what kind of character I am and bounce back? So I thought even in that first round, once I composed myself, I started getting into it.
โI just felt that you know what, Iโve lost to someone thatโs just a bit better than me at the moment but Iโm on the up.
I feel like if I can make that change in six weeks, another six months, a year, what level am I going to get.โ
Though he added, โI hate losing, bottom line. Losing to Savon, losing to whoever, itโs still a loss.โ
This was only his 26th contest in his entire amateur career. Okolie knows these now valuable lessons will benefit him. โExperience is key. When I had been hurt for the first time by Savon weeks before and I didnโt know what to do, it was new territory, I fought hard and ended up ultimately losing by stoppage. I saw that you have to be composed otherwise youโll end up coming unstuck,โ he said. โI want to fight as much as possible.โ
Now itโs โback to the bread and butter โ boxingโ.
His focus though is doing what he needs to do to improve as a boxer. He has learned from Rio 2016. โI feel that, at most, only 13 boxers from the whole of Great Britain can even go to the qualifier let alone the Olympics,โ he said.
โI didnโt get a medal or anything like that but Iโm still happy with the overall experience.โ
This feature was originally published in Boxing News magazine