Former two-weight world champion folds rival in half with sickening two minute KO on heavyweight debut
Lawrence Okolie took the heavyweight division by storm, ousting Hussein Muhamad on his debut. The British star has had an array of success at cruiserweight where he first became world champion in 2021, before capturing a WBC world title at bridgerweight in May this year. Okolie nailed Muhammed with a sensational right handGetty Okolie decided to make a switch to the blue-riband division, having long teased a move to compete alongside the likes of friend Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. He made his debut against Muhamad on the Queensberry Promotion’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ after bulking up to a career-highest 260lbs. And he delivered in the most ferocious fashion possible, assuring proceedings didn’t go on beyond the first round. Okolie had dominated from the opening bell using his long lever of a jab to establish some early control. But a beautiful counter right hand landed flush through the guard, and folded his rival in the half in the centre of the ring. Muhamed, who like Okolie had been beaten just once in his professional career, collapsed to the canvas on his back but was still conscious. View Tweet: https://twitter.com/Lawrenceokolie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw He managed to somehow climb to his feet at the count of eight, but was all over the place and staggering dazed towards the referee. The official had no choice and sensibly waved off the contest, with just over two minutes of the opening stanza gone. It was a real statement from ‘The Sauce’ who was delighted, and believes he can mix it at world level in the new weight class. He said: “I felt good. That’s my second first-round KO in a row. Okolie folded his rival in half, a sickening blow after just two minutes “Now that I’ve been putting on the weight, enjoying training camp, I can be a lot more explosive. “It’s showing in the fights, as soon as I start hitting these guys, they start going. I’m ready for the best in the world at any weight. “I felt super robust, super strong. I think people might have thought, ‘he weighed 200lbs last year, why’s he 260lbs now’? “But I feel happier and natural and a lot more solid. “You know when I was making cruiserweight because of what I had to do to make that weight I felt tired. “But now, I just know every round I can go explosive, recover, explosive, recover. So it feels good.” His rival was unable to beat the count and it was haltedGetty Okolie wants to become a rare three-time heavyweight champion, albeit with some contest, given not all of boxing’s sanctioning organisations recognise bridgerweight as an official weight class. He already sits at fifth in the WBC rankings after announcing his switch, so is likely to be thrust into some big fights from here on in. Usyk currently holds most of the keys at heavyweight, holding the unified WBC, WBA and WBO world titles, but is tied up in a rematch with Fury on December 21. Okolie wants to get in line for a shot at ‘The Cat’, but could also look towards a future shot at IBF champion Daniel Dubois.
Lawrence Okolie took the heavyweight division by storm, ousting Hussein Muhamad on his debut.
The British star has had an array of success at cruiserweight where he first became world champion in 2021, before capturing a WBC world title at bridgerweight in May this year.
Okolie decided to make a switch to the blue-riband division, having long teased a move to compete alongside the likes of friend Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
He made his debut against Muhamad on the Queensberry Promotion’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ after bulking up to a career-highest 260lbs.
And he delivered in the most ferocious fashion possible, assuring proceedings didn’t go on beyond the first round.
Okolie had dominated from the opening bell using his long lever of a jab to establish some early control.
But a beautiful counter right hand landed flush through the guard, and folded his rival in the half in the centre of the ring.
Muhamed, who like Okolie had been beaten just once in his professional career, collapsed to the canvas on his back but was still conscious.
He managed to somehow climb to his feet at the count of eight, but was all over the place and staggering dazed towards the referee.
The official had no choice and sensibly waved off the contest, with just over two minutes of the opening stanza gone.
It was a real statement from ‘The Sauce’ who was delighted, and believes he can mix it at world level in the new weight class.
He said: “I felt good. That’s my second first-round KO in a row.
“Now that I’ve been putting on the weight, enjoying training camp, I can be a lot more explosive.
“It’s showing in the fights, as soon as I start hitting these guys, they start going. I’m ready for the best in the world at any weight.
“I felt super robust, super strong. I think people might have thought, ‘he weighed 200lbs last year, why’s he 260lbs now’?
“But I feel happier and natural and a lot more solid.
“You know when I was making cruiserweight because of what I had to do to make that weight I felt tired.
“But now, I just know every round I can go explosive, recover, explosive, recover. So it feels good.”
Okolie wants to become a rare three-time heavyweight champion, albeit with some contest, given not all of boxing’s sanctioning organisations recognise bridgerweight as an official weight class.
He already sits at fifth in the WBC rankings after announcing his switch, so is likely to be thrust into some big fights from here on in.
Usyk currently holds most of the keys at heavyweight, holding the unified WBC, WBA and WBO world titles, but is tied up in a rematch with Fury on December 21.
Okolie wants to get in line for a shot at ‘The Cat’, but could also look towards a future shot at IBF champion Daniel Dubois.
