Lawrence Okolie previews forthcoming fight with ‘fast-starter’ Lukasz Rozanski
Former cruiserweight world champion Lawrence Okolie (19-1, 14KO) has lifted the lid on his first training camp at a new weight ahead of his maiden shot at the bridgerweight world title.
Okolie’s reign as the WBO cruiserweight champion began in March 2021 and lasted until his clash with Billam-Smith in May 2023 when he lost his title via a majority decision at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth.
Since then, he has left his trainer Shane McGuigan and linked up with the highly-rated Joe Gallagher.
Despite talks of a rematch with Billam-Smith lingering since their previous encounter, Okolie opted for a new direction when he announced his decision to move up in weight class and challenge unbeaten Lukasz Rozanski (15-0, 14KO) for the WBC bridgerweight title on May 24 on Rzeszow, Poland.
Now, speaking to Betway, he has reflected on his first camp with Joe G, “It’s good. I’m still there having to make weight again, but I don’t think I could physically make cruiserweight again, so it’s good to have extra pounds to eat and put the work in for training and focus on boxing as opposed to constantly making weight.
“I do need to switch on for these last few weeks though because it’s close, so I need to watch what I’m eating but it’s nowhere near as bad as when I was at cruiserweight though for 9 or 10 weeks of having to be on it and making the weight. I don’t need to do that now.”
He then reflected on the training and sparring during camp, “I feel good sparring-wise, but for what this fight is going to be, I am going to be ready for.
“I feel that it’s going to be a war and, as much as I say I want to box and do this, that, and the other, I am realising that sometimes it doesn’t work like that, and you have to be ready to put your foot on the gas and earn the right to box.
“I think, stylistically, with this fight I have to establish myself and at some point in the fight, it has to be a knockout.
“Lukasz Rozanski has to start really fast and all of his fights have been over within four rounds, so he needs to go for it in the first four to six rounds to really try and impose himself in the fight early because if he doesn’t then I have done 12 rounds several times and have got late knockouts in me and am conditioned for 12 rounds so he will get unstuck in the later rounds.”