Lawrence Okolie

Professional Career

Okolie’s professional journey began on March 25, 2017, with a spectacular knockout victory over Geoffrey Cave in just 20 seconds at the Manchester Arena. This early success set the tone for his career, marked by a series of dominant performances and rapid ascensions through the ranks. By 2018, Okolie had already captured his first major title, winning the vacant WBA Continental cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision over Isaac Chamberlain. His momentum continued as he claimed the Commonwealth cruiserweight title by defeating Luke Watkins via a third-round TKO on June 6, 2018. Okolie’s prowess in the ring was further solidified with a unanimous decision victory over Matty Askin, earning him the British cruiserweight title on September 22, 2018, at Wembley Stadium.

Okolie’s success was not without challenges, but he consistently rose to the occasion. In 2021, he secured the vacant WBO cruiserweight title with a sixth-round TKO against Krzysztof Głowacki. He successfully defended this title multiple times, including a unanimous decision win over Michał Cieślak at The O2 Arena in London in 2022 and another unanimous decision against David Light in March 2023. However, Okolie faced a setback in May 2023, when he lost the WBO cruiserweight title to Chris Billam-Smith via a majority decision at Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England. Despite this defeat, Okolie demonstrated his resilience and determination by moving up to the bridgerweight division. On May 24, 2024, he captured the WBC bridgerweight title with a first-round knockout of Łukasz Różański at the G2A Arena in Rzeszow, Poland, showcasing his adaptability and continued dominance in the sport.