British boxer Lawrence Okolie is the present WBO cruiserweight champion; holding an unbeaten skilled file of 18-0, 14 of these victories coming by means of a knockout.
The former Olympian, who has additionally held the Commonwealth, British, and European cruiserweight titles throughout his profession, will put his WBO belt on the road once more when he makes a compulsory protection towards New Zealand’s David Light on March 25 at London’s AO Arena.
M&F was in a position to sit down with “The Sauce” at his battle camp in Florida to study extra about his hanging energy and accuracy, life as a champion versus being a challenger, and why Okolie feels that he’s not a pure athlete.
You have been boxing because you had been a younger man, however at what level did you determine to speculate your complete life into being the very best you can be?
I will need to have been 19, actually, as a result of it was in the course of the 2012 Olympics. I used to be watching Anthony Joshua and Luke Campbell and even Usain Bolt go on and win gold medals, however furthermore Joshua and Campbell, and Nicola Adams, and seeing them get their fingers raised on the finish of an Olympic last … and particularly Anthony Joshua, as a result of he was somebody that I felt seemed like me and got here from the same space, I actually felt like, “Oh, if he’s done it, why can’t I”’ so, I actually knuckled down and left my job on the time, in a fast-food restaurant, and from there I simply pushed on.
As a younger man, did that call imply that you’d miss out on enjoyable with your pals? How was that?
Yeah. It nonetheless goes on now. Obviously, I take pleasure in hanging out with my associates, I’m nonetheless a human being, I take pleasure in all the similar stuff, however there are occasions, particularly in camp, the place I’ve to say, “It looks good, but I have to say no.” Or [people will say] “Such and such is here,” however I’ll nonetheless should say no.
It’s very, very troublesome however I simply assume to myself that when it comes to sports activities you solely have a choose time frame to attain what you probably can, so I don’t wish to ever look again and remorse that I went to that occasion or I stayed and had a drink with that woman, or I did this or I did that. I feel the very best factor to do is keep disciplined, prepare as laborious as you may after which no matter occurs, win lose or draw, so long as you’ve finished the very best you can, will probably be what it’s.
Who have been among the heroes who’ve impressed you alongside the best way?
I feel it’s a mix between David Haye and Anthony Joshua; British, massive guys, energy punchers, who additionally dealt with massive events very properly. So now, once I’m in my fights, I simply assume to myself ‘these guys have been here before, I’m simply following in the same footstep.’
You are recognized for having a really correct jab. Do you assume that is one thing that you simply had been born with or do you must work on the thoughts and muscle connection to actually hone this?
Yeah, I feel it’s simply in regards to the time that you simply put in. I used to be not athletic as a child in any respect. I used to be really chubby to the purpose of needing to go and see a physician, who informed me the assorted completely different issues I’d develop if I didn’t get myself in form. So, it wasn’t like I used to be a naturally athletically gifted (fighter). You simply should work at it. I feel in boxing specifically, as a sport, it’s about placing your self in troublesome and uncomfortable conditions the place it’s harmful, the place you must study, “Oh, If I don’t throw (a punch) things are gonna happen.”
For accuracy, specifically, you’ll hit the pads the place there’s a small goal or you may focus, when you’re in sparring, on not simply hitting someone (anyplace) however really aiming for a particular a part of the physique just like the shoulder versus simply the entire arm. I’d wish to hit the highest of the pinnacle, or the chin, or go for the fitting facet of the cheek.
How might somebody enhance their very own punching energy?
Train up the punching muscle tissues. Like, get your shoulders greater or your lats stronger. Or you are able to do extra pushups so that you simply’ll positively be capable of punch more durable. It’s about discovering out which workouts give you the results you want. Some individuals’s our bodies are constructed to be lengthy and elastic and others are extra quick and compact.
What you put on within the health club should be crucial to you, and you’re an envoy for BohooMan. What do you want about this clothes vary?
You know, it’s comfy. It’s breathable. They have completely different stuff for various periods. So, once I’m within the weights room I put on a special set from once I’m boxing. When I’m boxing, I wish to have my shoulders free. There are some days once I wish to sweat, and maintain the sweat, so I put on the extra cotton stuff. Other instances I need it to be extra sports activities particular so I’ll put on an energetic prime that wicks the sweat away. I used to be sporting their stuff earlier than we ended up being companions.
You haven’t eaten meat, fish, or dairy since 2016. This is for each moral and dietary causes. It’s a desire that appears to work properly for you!
They have me on the lentils, the pulses, and chickpeas. Then it’s simply blended with sprouted this and spouted that, however you gotta do it. It helps me to really feel in form and energized. I made myself a promise that whereas I’m boxing, I’m not going to eat meat or drink alcohol. I’ve stored up with it, and it’s gone properly up to now.
People usually say that it’s harder to be the champion than it’s to be the challenger. As the champ, what are your ideas on this?
For me, I nonetheless battle and prepare as if I’m a challenger. It feels completely different. When you’re the champion it’s not the identical starvation and chase, it’s extra that you’ve one thing that you simply wish to preserve maintain of and I kinda see it as a duty to maintain this now, a duty to behave like a champion and prepare like a champion. It’s a special type of vitality, you simply have to search out completely different motivations.
Could unifying your title be a kind of motivations?
Of course. The solely downside with that’s the different champions should say, “Let’s do it.” I take pleasure in testing myself and I benefit from the feeling of my coronary heart beating.
You’ll be defending your WBO cruiserweight title towards David Light (18-0-0) on March 25. How are you feeling proper now?
I’m within the battle camp now. Today was a sparring session, and I’ll go in and do weights in round an hour and a half. This is why I look so tough within the face. I haven’t had a haircut, nothing like that, I’m able to go. I’m simply pushing myself to the restrict and that’s it. Always ferocious.