On Friday, Britain’s Lawrence Okolie became a two-weight world champion by scoring a spectacular first-round TKO over Lukasz Rozanski in Poland. The victory saw Okolie lift the fledgling WBC bridgerweight title.
Okolie (20-1, 15 KOs) floored Rozanski twice with right hands and then switched to the right uppercut for the third and final knockdown. Rozanski found his feet, but referee Daniel Van de Wiele had seen enough. The official time was 2:55.
“I think this is the best moment in boxing for me, I’m super-happy,” said Okolie during his post-fight interview with Sky Sports. “[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.”
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With a minute remaining in round one, Okolie floored Rozanski with a massive right-hand counter and the fight was essentially over at that moment. The home fighter rose bravely, but a follow-up attack punctuated by another crisp right sent him down again. The uppercut for the final knockdown was very well-timed.
After winning the vacant WBO cruiserweight title at the expense of Krzysztof Glowacki in 2021, Okolie made three successful defences. The Englishman’s reign ended when he lost a decision to former stablemate Chris Billam-Smith last May.
This trip into the new bridgerweight division is expected to be a brief one for Okolie, who has always had ambitions of moving into the glamour division. At 6-5 with an 82 ½ inch reach, he certainly has the dimensions to pull it off.
“I believe I’ve got a mandatory with Kevin Lerena, who’s a really good fighter,” said Okolie. “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.”
The 38-year-old Rozanski falls to 15-1 (14 KOs).
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Lukasz Rozanski vs. Lawrence Okolie undercard
- Lawrence Okolie def. Lukasz Rozanski (c.) via (TKO 1/ 12); WBC bridgerweight title
- Fiodor Czerkaszyn def. Jorge Cota via (TKO 7/10); Middleweights
- Jan Czerklewicz def. Paul Valenzuela Cuesta via (UD 8); Super Middleweights
- Ihosvany Rafael Garcia def. Lukasz Plawecki via (KO 2/8); Light Heavyweights
- Tobiasz Zarzeczny def. Daniel Przewieslik via (UD 4); Super Middleweights
- Kamil Slendak def. Daniel Plonka via (TKO 2/4); Cruiserweight