AFTER winning the WBO cruiserweight world title in some style against Krzysztof Glowacki on Saturday, Lawrence Okolie has reset his goals. He wants to go straight into world title unifications before considering a move up to heavyweight.
“I felt happiness and relief but I feel like those kind of moments are going to come when I’m able to unify and do other stuff like that. So instantly I want to have a world title belt, look across the ring and see another man with a world title belt. And leave with both of them,” Okolie said. “I don’t mind who I box as long as I get to test myself and show to the world this is what I’m capable of.”
Mairis Briedis, the IBF champion who beat Glowacki in the World Boxing Super Series, would be a particularly appealing opponent. But the Briton warns that is continuing to improve. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning. I watch other fighters and think: ‘Wow, how does he do that?’ And I just really want to do it. It’s the same with anything in my life. I never watch with jealousy, I watch with admiration. So that inspires me to say: ‘Can I do it?’” Okolie says.
“I knew what I was capable of doing, I was just really focused on doing it [against Glowacki]. I’ve had some tremendous sparring this camp, last camp, the camp before and I just looked back and said: I’ve been in so many situations, I’ve been in with some great fighters, proven fighters, and I’ve been able to hold my own. And that opportunity, of course you get that stamp of approval: you’re a world champion now. But I felt like for a long time I’ve been a world class fighter. So it’s just about proving it on the day. I’m just happy I was able to do it.”
His ambitions extend even further than unifying in this division. “I’d like to be regarded as the number one at cruiserweight at the time and then go up, win the bridgerweight world title – that must still count – and then eventually go up to heavyweight and win the heavyweight world title. That way, I’m a three-weight world champion!” he said.
“Now I am on a vicious mission to keep getting better and prove myself as the best fighter in the division in the world.”
