Lawrence Okolie bids to become a two-weight world champion in enemy territory against Lukasz Rozanski tonight
Powerful Pole Lukasz Rozanski (15-0, 14KO) meets lanky Londoner Lawrence Okolie (19-1, 14KO) tonight, May 24, in Rzeszow, Poland for the WBC bridgerweight world title.
31-year-old Okolie is bidding to become a two-weight world champion having previously held the WBO cruiserweight title from 2021-2023.
But standing in his way is the reigning champion, defending his green and gold belt in his home country, who can boast an unbeaten record and a fearsome 93% KO ratio.
It’s not the biggest, most highly-anticipated fight of the year, but it is an interesting matchup with tonnes of intrigue surrounding it.
Okolie is a former Olympian and world champion who has been on our TV screens on the biggest stages ever since his pro debut in 2017, whereas Rozanski has rarely been seen during his approaching 10-year career.
His last two victories against Artur Szpilka and Alen Babic has resulted in worldwide recognition, but he is still largely unknown and unproven. Questions are even asked whether he is a world-class fighter despite his status as world champion.
Hackney’s Okolie is well known, his style of boxing has caused disdain among spectators due to his excessive holding, which he is often penalised for – in his last two bouts he was deducted three points.
Despite this messy style, he is very powerful, with a 73% KO ratio, and a good finisher. His big right hand is his best weapon and his rangy limbs always provide an advantage, but he is known for landing his shots then falling in and holding, making his performances less than pleasing to the eye.
The Brit’s 6’5″ frame and 82½″ reach completely dwarf the champion’s 6’1″ stature and 74″ reach.
Rozanski’s top attribute is his power, so far able to stop all but one of his foes, with 13 first and second round finishes. Only two opponents have made it as far as the fourth round, one on points, one stopped 30 seconds before the bell for the fifth session when he challenged Izuagbe Ugonoh for the Polish heavyweight title in 2019.
To win the world title in his last fight last year, he obliterated then-unbeaten Alen “The Savage” Babic in 130 seconds, in what can only be described as a barroom brawl.
Prior to that, he showed his heart by beating world title contender Artur Szpilka in the first round of their May 2021 fight. Rozanski came out jabbing, then paid the price for a lazy right hand to the body, countered quickly by a left hand that took him off his feet within the first seven seconds of the contest!
However, he get back to his feet undazed and put Szpilka back down in revenge, then twice more to win at 2:25 of the opener. It was three-four punch combination ending with a powerful right hand that caused all three knockdowns.
Okolie is often seen either carrying his left arm down low in a sling or pawing it outstretched in his opponent’s face to distract and keep them at length. It’s possible that Rozanski’s powerful right hand could exploit this potential gap in the guard.
Okolie comes into the contest off the back of a loss to his former teammate Chris Billam Smith in May last year – where he was floored several times – meaning he has been out of the ring for an entire year.
But Rozanski has only fought once in three years and has been out the ring for even longer since his last fight, which was 13 months ago.
Okolie may not have the home advantage, but he has the height and reach, the greater experience at the highest level, and the better boxing ability.
The challenger is a proven world champion, Rozanski isn’t… yet. If the champion can obtain victory and retain his belt, then we will all know he is the real deal, but right now, the jury is out.
Okolie has boxed in 108 rounds as a professional and Rozanski only a mere 26. Taking the champion past the fourth round will place him in unknown territory to test his stamina and strength.
The Londoner has been instructed to go for the KO by his newest trainer, Joe Gallagher, and Rozanski only deals in knockouts so this one is going to be explosive and very unlikely to go the distance.
If the fight does go more rounds than expected, then that will favour Okolie having been the full 12 rounds three times before.
In terms of who will knock out the other… well, that’s the intrigue mentioned earlier. Both are capable, but which one?
I am siding with my fellow Londoner to win by knockout from round five onwards.