The Massive Sauce has launched into a path to turn into the heavyweight boss.
Lawrence Okolie left the #PurseBidHeads group in tatters after he selected to vacate the WBC Bridgerweight title. The choice got here hours earlier than a deliberate purse bid for his ordered bout versus Kevin Lerena.
“The WBC has obtained official affirmation from Lawrence Okolie that he has determined to relinquish his Bridgerwieght championship with a purpose to pursue his dream of turning into Heavyweight champion,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed to The Ring in a supplied assertion. “Consequently Interim champion Kevin Lerena is hereby confirmed as WBC World Bridgerwieght champion.”
Okolie was as a result of make the primary protection of his WBC bridgerweight title. Lerena was the necessary challenger in ready and the interim titleholder. The 2 beforehand advised the WBC {that a} deal was reached however the matter was thought-about in default when neither a date nor location was correctly secured.
Two extensions had been granted, just for Okolie (20-1, 15 knockouts)—now a former two-division titlist—to as an alternative give attention to the meat-slapping heavyweight division.
“First, I want to state how proud and comfortable I used to be to compete for and win the WBC bridgerweight belt,” acknowledged Okolie. “After a lot consideration it’s with a heavy coronary heart that I’ve to sadly relinquish the WBC bridgerweight belt.”
Okolie, a 2016 Nice Britain Olympian, has filed a proper request with the WBC to enter the heavyweight rankings, ideally within the prime 5.
Okolie knocked out Poland’s Lukasz Rozanski in the primary spherical to win the title on Might 26 in Rzeszow. He floored Rozanski (15-1, 14 KOs) thrice to grab the WBC bridgerweight title.
With the win, Okolie turned a two-division titlist—for many who acknowledge the WBC-created weight class. He beforehand held the WBO cruiserweight title. That reign resulted in his first profession defeat when he dropped a choice to Chris Billam-Smith final Might in Bournemouth, England.
South Africa’s Lerena (30-3, 14 KOs) was unaffected at bridgerweight regardless of coming off a loss. It got here at heavyweight, albeit in a reputable displaying. The 32-year-old southpaw was outpointed by unbeaten heavyweight Justis Huni on the March 8 Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It snapped a two-fight win streak after a third-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois. Lerena practically received the secondary WBA heavyweight title after he dropped Dubois (21-2, 20 KOs) thrice within the opening spherical of their Dec. 2022 battle. Dubois rallied to drop him twice en path to the stoppage win and has since received the IBF belt. He defends versus Joshua (28-3, 25 KOs) on Sept. 21 in London.
The creation of the bridgerweight division was an ideal match for fighters sized like Lerena. He outpointed Ryad Merhy of their WBC title eliminator final Might 13 in Kempton Park, South Africa.
Subsequent step for Lerena will turn into the primary of the younger division to truly defend the belt. Oscar Rivas, Rozanski and now Okolie have all received the belt however by no means lodged a profitable protection.
Rivas vacated the title after a failed plan to defend in Colombia and subsequent accidents stalled his profession.
Rozanski destroyed Alen Babic within a spherical to win the vacant title final April in Rzeszow. The favor was returned by Okolie, who has not fought since their Might conflict.
