LAWRENCE OKOLIE will go into his next fight against Richard Riakporhe on April 5 as the WBC’s number one heavyweight contender.
The 6ft 5ins Londoner, who is the WBC Silver belt holder, made the jump from bridgerweight to heavyweight in thumping fashion on December 7 with a first-round win over Hussein Muhamed. His debut for new promoter Queensberry came seven months after another opening round wipeout but this time in Poland against Lukasz Rozanski earning him the WBC bridgerweight title.
Two fights and two wins with new trainer Joe Gallagher have Okolie, 21-1 (16 KOs), looking confident and a man, known for his power, who is now looking to destroy opponents each time he gets in the ring.
Okolie climbed two places from last month’s position of three to take up the number one slot which puts him in a great position to earn a future world title shot. Champion Oleksandr Usyk is yet to make a decision on his future but has spoke of facing IBF title holder Daniel Dubois once again which would give the gifted Ukrainian a chance to become a two-time undisputed champion.
It’s good news for two more British heavyweights as former unified champion Anthony Joshua and rising star Fabio Wardley take up the second and third spaces in the WBC rankings in behind Okolie.
On April 5 Okolie meets former cruiserweight rival Riakporhe in a domestic grudge match at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester. The two men almost came to blows at the UK premiere of Creed III in February 2023. Joshua, meanwhile, will fight again according to promoter Eddie Hearn but it remains to be seen who that will be against. Wardley, though, was recently installed as the WBA’s mandatory challenger for their Regular heavyweight belt currently held by veteran Kubrat Pulev.
Elsewhere in the latest WBC rankings Artur Beterbiev is the new top contender at light heavyweight. The former undisputed king of 175lbs is eyeing a trilogy bout with new champion Dmitry Bivol.
