Okolie Vows to Become Two-time World Champion

Lawrence Okolie returns to the ring for the first time since his defeat to Chris Billam-Smith as he moves up from cruiserweight to fight Lukasz Rozanski for the WBC World Bridgerweight world title in the champion’s native Poland on May 24.

Okolie says he is more motivated than ever as he looks to respond to his first career defeat to Chris Billam-Smith by beating Lukasz Rozanski and becoming a two-weight world champion.

Okolie was knocked down three times as he surrendered his WBO cruiserweight world title to Billam-Smith in a majority decision defeat in Bournemouth last May.

He returns to action in May when he challenges Rozanski for the WBC Bridgerweight championship that the Pole clinched thanks to a first-round knockout win over Alen Babic.

“At this point it would mean everything,” Okolie told Sky Sports. “Winning and losing a world title, I can see the difference so I want it and I want it bad.

“I would say (he’s more motivated than ever). If I’m going to be brutally honest then definitely.

“I’ve got to prove a lot of people wrong, not that it’s my main motivation but it does give you a chip on your shoulder.”

Defeat to Billam-Smith saw Okolie drop to 19-1 and bring up the first blemish of the Olympian’s professional career, which saw him become world champion with a sixth-round stoppage win over Krzysztof Głowacki in 2021.