More British boxers will fight in Nigeria – Okolie

Boxer Lawrence Okolie stands in the ring (which is out of shot) after a fight, posing in a victory stance. Visibly from stomach up, he is bare-chested and muscular. His right arm is bent with his black-gloved fist raised proudly near his head, while his left gloved hand rests on a large championship belt slung over his left shoulder. The belt has a wide teal strap and a shiny, circular centre plate decorated with many small national flags around its edge, catching the arena lights. The background is dark and out of focus, making the boxer and the belt stand out as the clear focal points of the imageGetty Images

Born in London to Nigerian parents, Lawrence Okolie was inspired by seeing Anthony Joshua win gold at the 2012 Olympic Games

Emmanuel Akindubuwa & Ian Williams
BBC Sport Africa

Lawrence Okolie believes more British boxers will fight in Nigeria after seeing his African debut against Ebenezer Tetteh on Sunday.

The former cruiserweight world champion and Olympian, who was born in London to Nigerian parents, says the likes of Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma, heavyweights who both also have Nigerian heritage, will suffer from "FOMO" (fear of missing out) once they see the reaction of fight fans in Lagos.

"They're going to see me headline the show over there and then they're going to have the fear of missing out and come running over to do it as well," the 33-year-old told BBC Sport Africa.

"I'm really looking forward to my fight there."

While Okolie held the WBO cruiserweight world title from 2021 to 2023, he has now moved up to the heavyweight division, hoping to challenge the likes of Joshua - the man whose 2012 Olympic gold medal inspired Okolie to get into boxing.

Sunday's opponent Tetteh is a Ghanaian veteran known for his resilience and power.

Last December, the 37-year-old was stopped in the seventh round by another British heavyweight, Dillian Whyte, when they met in Gibraltar.

'Shocked' to be loved at 'home'

While Okolie was born and grew up in Hackney in east London, he has always talked with pride of his roots.

"I wouldn't have been able to represent Britain in the Olympics or become a British champion without my parents coming over to England," he explained.

"Just instilling the [African] culture and instilling the rights and wrongs on their part, so for me I've always got that connection through my parents."

A visit to Nigeria earlier this year offered Okolie, who also had a spell as WBC bridgerweight champion, a glimpse of the reception awaiting him on Sunday.

"It was a great reaction. I was actually very shocked," he said.

"My face is in various gyms, people know who I am as I'm walking around, and everyone was sort of on me."

Okolie previously described the Lagos card - which counts among its promoters Amir Khan and Frank Warren's Queensberry outfit - as "historic" and is promising "a mix" of cultures.

"You're going to see artists performing. You're going to see colours. You're going to see what you expect from England, but just with the African twist."

"There's a real big fight-fan culture there and they love to see boxers go for it."

Along with Joshua and Itauma, Okolie lists fellow Britons Joe Joyce, David Adeleye, and Fabio Wardley as fighters who could feel the lure of an expanding African market.

"Our heritage is bringing awareness, great fights and titles to British boxing."

'I've been eating a lot'

Two male boxers are fighting in a brightly lit stadium ring in front of a large crowd. The boxer on the right, Lawrence Okolie, is a tall, muscular black man wearing black and gold trunks and black gloves. He is throwing a powerful right-hand punch toward his opponent’s head. The boxer on the left, Krzysztof Glowacki, is a heavily tattooed, white man with close‑cropped hair, wearing white trunks with colourful writing and white gloves. He is hunched over, arms raised tightly in front of his face and body as he absorbs or blocks the punch. Their bodies are very close, with sweat visible, and the moment captured feels tense and explosive, as if in the middle of an intense exchange during a high‑level boxing matchGetty Images

Okolie's breakthrough on the global stage came in March 2021 when he became WBO cruiserweight world champion with an emphatic sixth round stoppage of Krzysztof Glowacki at Wembley Arena

The fight in Lagos fits into Okolie's plan to gain another world title, this time at heavyweight, in 2026.

He has fought at that weight twice since making his decision to move up, with July's unanimous points decision over Kevin Lerena in London his most recent victory.

Earlier this month, the WBC ordered Okolie and unbeaten 20-year-old Itauma, who is due to fight American Jermaine Franklin in January, to meet in a final eliminator, with the winner to be named mandatory challenger for a shot next year at the world title.

And it seems the older fighter is enjoying the perks of no longer having to worry about tipping the wrong side of the scales.

"I've been eating a lot", said Okolie, laughing.

"I don't have to drain myself how I used to 10 years ago. It allows me to enjoy my training a lot more because I'm not starving myself."

The Lagos event, tagged 'Chaos in the Ring', features an undercard containing a mix of established European names alongside up-and-coming African talent.

Among the bouts, Harley Benn, son of Nigel Benn, faces Ghana's Elvis Ahorgah in a super middleweight contest, while French heavyweight Tony Yoka, who beat Joe Joyce to Olympic gold at the Rio 2016 Games, takes on German veteran Patrick Korte.

Okolie, who tops the bill, hopes to see a new wave of talent inspired in his parents' homeland.

"I think there's a lot of infrastructure that's planned for Nigeria over the next five to 10 years.

"That raw, natural talent and ability must be in the roots."

Related topics