Okolie Stops Rozanski In The First Round To Win WBC Bridgerweight Title

Lawrence Okolie is a two-weight world champion after stopping Lukasz Rozanski in the first round in Poland to claim the WBC Bridgerweight title.

Okolie was on the front foot immediately. He sent Rozanski to the canvas with a counter-right hand in the first round. The Pole got off the canvas, only to be sent down by another right hand. The Brit then followed that up with a right uppercut, which did the damage. While Rozansk got off the canvas, the referee waved off the fight. 

It was a perfect response to Okolie’s last fight, in which he lost his WBO Cruiserweight Title against Chris Billam-Smith. Rather than pursuing a rematch, Okolie moved up to pursue another world title, which has now paid off. 

Okolie Reacts

“I think this is the best moment in boxing for me, I’m super-happy. [It’s a] new weight, and I’m putting the ‘KO’ back in Okolie. I said I’d go in there from round one and try and get the knockout. If I don’t get the knockout in one, then I’m gonna get it in two. I hated every single second of training with (new coach Joe Gallagher), but today it was all worthwhile.

“I believe I’ve got a mandatory with Kevin Lerena, who’s a really good fighter. [And] I think that’ll be next unless an opportunity comes at heavyweight. At the weight I’m at now, I feel comfortable. I feel fit, I feel strong, and I feel confident. My last fight was a great experience when I realised what it’s like feeling alone in the ring [against Billam-Smith]. I did not feel alone, I felt like I wanted to win for the team. We came and got it done,” Okolie

Okolie’s Trainer

Okolie is unlikely to stay at the weight class for too long, as he does fight at cruiserweight. He could target the winner of Billam-Smith or Richard Riakporhe, who face off on June 15. Billam-Smith did not look great in his last fight, only to win after Mateusz Masternak retired hurt in the eighth round. Before that, Masternak was outboxing Billam-Smith for most of the fight. Even if  Riakporhe wins, that would set up a mega domestic clash that would sell. But Okolie’s trainer, Joe Gallagher, had eyes elsewhere. 

“I’d like to see a unification, there’s a WBA unification fight there. There are smaller heavyweights there like Deontay Wilder, Lawrence is at those kind of weights. “It’s got to be a natural progression but I’d like to see him unify this first. He’s full of energy, he can come back into the gym on Monday,” Joe Gallagher (Okolie’s trainer)

Full Card

Lawrence Okolie def. Lukasz Rozanski (c.) via a first-round TKO; WBC Bridgerweight Title

Fiodor Czerkaszyn def. Jorge Cota via a seventh-round knockout; Middleweight

Jan Czerklewicz def. Paul Valenzuela Cuesta via a unanimous decision; Super Middleweight

Ihosvany Rafael Garcia def. Lukasz Plawecki via a second-round knockout; Light Heavyweight

Tobiasz Zarzeczny def. Daniel Przewieslik via a unanimous decision; Super Middleweight

Kamil Slendak def. Daniel Plonka via a second-round TKO; Cruiserweight

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