Professional career
In January 2017, Matchroom Boxing announced the signing of Lawrence Okolie. His debut would arrive two months later, on March 25 at Manchester Arena. Boxing in Glasgow, outdoors at Bramall Lane and at the O2 Arena gave Okolie experience competing on big cards on Sky Sports.
During the early stages of his career, Okolie had an eye on fighting rival Isaac Chamberlain. In June 2017, the two men were pulled apart after an altercation at public workouts ahead of their separate fights on July 1 at the O2 Arena.
Several months later Chamberlain and Okolie met over 10 rounds in the main event at the O2. A well-publicised build-up whetted the appetite for a big crowd but the fight was a snooze-fest, which Okolie won on points.
Okolie’s size and attributes were great advantages but not easy on the eye when he put them to use. His British title win against Matty Askin included three separate point deductions for Okolie’s persistent fouling.
In his 14th fight, Okolie added the European title to his collection when a huge right hand buckled the legs of Yves Ngabu, who had no answer for the Brit’s power.
World level beckoned in March 2021 when Okolie challenged Krzysztof Glowacki for the WBO cruiserweight title. Okolie was awkward and unpredictable and left the Pole on the canvas in the sixth to become world champion.
His reign lasted three defences and two years until Chris Billam-Smith dethroned him at Bournemouth FC’s Vitality Stadium in May 2023. The former gym-mates produced a fight to forget on a night which brought the curtain down on Okolie’s time at cruiserweight.
The Londoner returned in explosive fashion in May 2024, needing less than three minutes to bludgeon Lukasz Rozanski in Rzeszow, Poland. Okolie’s demolition job gave him the WBC Bridgerweight title.
Having worked with Matchroom and Boxxer, Okolie completed the hat trick when he teamed up with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions in 2024. The announcement doubled up with Okolie revealing he was moving to the heavyweight division. His debut at his third weight class comes on December 7 against Hussein Muhamed.
Trainers
Brian O’Shaughnessy
O’Shaughnessy worked with Okolie from his debut and helped guide him to British and Commonwealth title success.
Barry Robinson
Robinson led the corner for Okolie’s fourth-round knockout win over Wadi Camacho.
Shane McGuigan
In May 2019, it was confirmed Okolie had joined the star-studded McGuigan’s Gym. Okolie won the European and WBO cruiserweight titles under McGuigan.
Sugar Hill Steward
Trainer number four was revealed in February 2023 when a successful period with McGuigan was replaced by American Sugar Hill Steward. Their partnership was brief, with one win and one defeat.
Joe Gallagher
Okolie’s surprise move to Manchester and Joe Gallagher in 2024 has paid off so far with his first-round WBC Bridgerweight title win.
