Lawrence Okolie

[maverick23]

It looks like he’s leaving Matchroom and joining Sky.

I don’t think Matchroom did a bad job with him pre covid but he’s not been active enough since then and Matchroom have seemingly failed to deliver the unification fight he was after.

[joshj909]

He needs to be facing Briedis or Makubu for unifications, even the likes of Kovalev or Dorticos, would be more interesting than Cieslak and Prasovic. Maybe even unify against Goulamirian. Any sort of activity for belts or top names would be better. I have a sneaky feeling he'd be facing Riakporhe with Sky though.

[cpx2]

The WBA situation with Goulamirian is difficult, because I think he still has to fight Egorov; Eddie was saying he wanted to make that for a DAZN card but I don't think he's been able to.

Really needs the Briedis fight (assuming he beats Opetaia) or Makabu.

Wouldn't mind seeing Okolie or Riakporhe fight CBS and the other fight Makabu. Winners can fight in a unification.

[maverick23]

Yeah - the Riakporhe fight is a good one.

He had to take the Prasovic fight as it was a stupid WBO mandatory but when you’re fighting crappy mandatories I think you then need to be out quickly after. If Canelo can do it then anyone can.

[maverick23]

The WBA situation with Goulamirian is difficult, because I think he still has to fight Egorov; Eddie was saying he wanted to make that for a DAZN card but I don't think he's been able to.

Really needs the Briedis fight (assuming he beats Opetaia) or Makabu.

Wouldn't mind seeing Okolie or Riakporhe fight CBS and the other fight Makabu. Winners can fight in a unification.

Okolie won’t be fighting CBS as they’re from the same gym.

[cpx2]

The WBA situation with Goulamirian is difficult, because I think he still has to fight Egorov; Eddie was saying he wanted to make that for a DAZN card but I don't think he's been able to.

Really needs the Briedis fight (assuming he beats Opetaia) or Makabu.

Wouldn't mind seeing Okolie or Riakporhe fight CBS and the other fight Makabu. Winners can fight in a unification.

Okolie won’t be fighting CBS as they’re from the same gym.

Slipped my mind - I had heard CBS may be coming to Boxxer as well, they seem to have a good link with McGuigan. It's a bit of a confusing one, because I can't see who Okolie can fight next if it isn't Makabu or a name without a belt (Dorticos). Riakporhe-Okolie should happen, but it's bigger as a unification.

[garethhop]

Wow. Didn't see that coming. Must be fairly recent as not too long ago Eddie mentioned he would be on the AJ undercard.

This also makes sense in terms of Okolie going up to heavyweight before too long.

[maverick23]

Wow. Didn't see that coming. Must be fairly recent as not too long ago Eddie mentioned he would be on the AJ undercard.

This also makes sense in terms of Okolie going up to heavyweight before too long.

It’s not confirmed but there are a few rumours.

Hearn was interviewed in Saudi and was asked about the AJ undercard and Okolie’s name wasn’t mentioned. Perhaps Eddie took it for granted, couldn’t deliver the unification so Okolie will chase a Riakporhe fight and more exposure on Sky.

[garethhop]

Wow. Didn't see that coming. Must be fairly recent as not too long ago Eddie mentioned he would be on the AJ undercard.

This also makes sense in terms of Okolie going up to heavyweight before too long.

It’s not confirmed but there are a few rumours.

Hearn was interviewed in Saudi and was asked about the AJ undercard and Okolie’s name wasn’t mentioned. Perhaps Eddie took it for granted, couldn’t deliver the unification so Okolie will chase a Riakporhe fight and more exposure on Sky.

And ££££

[Ruthless-RKO]

It looks like he’s leaving Matchroom and joining Sky.

I don’t think Matchroom did a bad job with him pre covid but he’s not been active enough since then and Matchroom have seemingly failed to deliver the unification fight he was after.

Where did you hear this?

[maverick23]

It looks like he’s leaving Matchroom and joining Sky.

I don’t think Matchroom did a bad job with him pre covid but he’s not been active enough since then and Matchroom have seemingly failed to deliver the unification fight he was after.

Where did you hear this?

I heard about it from someone at the weekend who usually knows these things. He said it wasn’t confirmed but talks were happening. Then I heard Eddie’s interview with the Saudi undercard being discussed and Okolie not being mentioned and then Michael Benson put a clip up of Okolie being interviewed. When he was asked whether he was still with Matchroom he said he can’t really talk about it now, then asked if it was live, was told yes and then confirmed he was still with Eddie .

Matchroom won’t want to lose him as he’s been with them since he turned pro and it’s not a good look to lose one of your world champs like that so unless they really up the financials on offer I’d be surprised if he stays.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It looks like he’s leaving Matchroom and joining Sky.

I don’t think Matchroom did a bad job with him pre covid but he’s not been active enough since then and Matchroom have seemingly failed to deliver the unification fight he was after.

Where did you hear this?

I heard about it from someone at the weekend who usually knows these things. He said it wasn’t confirmed but talks were happening. Then I heard Eddie’s interview with the Saudi undercard being discussed and Okolie not being mentioned and then Michael Benson put a clip up of Okolie being interviewed. When he was asked whether he was still with Matchroom he said he can’t really talk about it now, then asked if it was live, was told yes and then confirmed he was still with Eddie .

Matchroom won’t want to lose him as he’s been with them since he turned pro and it’s not a good look to lose one of your world champs like that so unless they really up the financials on offer I’d be surprised if he stays.

He's done well with Matchroom. But Sky are an exposure machine!

You're right he was supposed to be on the Saudi card..

[tony1234]

He's been forgotten about in DAZN shuffle, back on SKY his profile will be instantly boosted which is no bad thing for a fight with Riaporhe

[Twinkle Toes]

Okolie has done well from Matchroom. He's not a big ticket seller, and it wasn't that long ago he was boring everyone to death with his mauling style. He wasn't too hot last time out, so hope he's not reverting to previous form.

I'll say now, I don't think he's going to do much at heavyweight.

Fighting Riakporhe is a backwards step for him, so it doesn't ring true that he's leaving purely because matchroom couldn't get him the unification.

Promise of PPV on the other hand.

[forcefraser]

Hearn is taking an unhealthy shellacking

[maverick23]

There’s also talk of CBS going over to Sky on a one fight deal to fight Isaac Chamberlain.

I like CBS but he’s asked for one thing really and that’s to fight in Bournemouth. I know Matchroom don’t particularly like doing small shows but it’d be better to have a full 4k arena than a 25% full O2 and if that’s what he asked for then I don’t see the big deal.

The talked about Chamberlain fight will be In Bournemouth if it comes off.

[garethhop]

There’s also talk of CBS going over to Sky on a one fight deal to fight Isaac Chamberlain.

I like CBS but he’s asked for one thing really and that’s to fight in Bournemouth. I know Matchroom don’t particularly like doing small shows but it’d be better to have a full 4k arena than a 25% full O2 and if that’s what he asked for then I don’t see the big deal.

The talked about Chamberlain fight will be In Bournemouth if it comes off.

Are you basing that on the Everything Boxing twitter account? Or another source.

[maverick23]

There’s also talk of CBS going over to Sky on a one fight deal to fight Isaac Chamberlain.

I like CBS but he’s asked for one thing really and that’s to fight in Bournemouth. I know Matchroom don’t particularly like doing small shows but it’d be better to have a full 4k arena than a 25% full O2 and if that’s what he asked for then I don’t see the big deal.

The talked about Chamberlain fight will be In Bournemouth if it comes off.

Are you basing that on the Everything Boxing twitter account? Or another source.

Another source but that Everything Boxing account is pretty reliable.

[maverick23]

Just listened to Shalom’s interview today - he’s mentioned a couple of headliners being signed and will be announced next week.

[knockout]

Surprising given Lawrence’s close relationship with AJ but makes much more Sense for him to be on Sky rather than DAZN

[Boxerbeetle]

There’s also talk of CBS going over to Sky on a one fight deal to fight Isaac Chamberlain.

I like CBS but he’s asked for one thing really and that’s to fight in Bournemouth. I know Matchroom don’t particularly like doing small shows but it’d be better to have a full 4k arena than a 25% full O2 and if that’s what he asked for then I don’t see the big deal.

The talked about Chamberlain fight will be In Bournemouth if it comes off.

Matchroom have done a few shows at the Cardiff Motorpoint which is probably only 4-5k, so don’t really see why they couldn’t do a Bournemouth show if a similar venue exists (I don’t know Bournemouth at all tbh). Definitely much better to have a full smaller arena than a bigger arena where most of it is cordoned off and the atmosphere is dead.

[tony1234]

There’s also talk of CBS going over to Sky on a one fight deal to fight Isaac Chamberlain.

I like CBS but he’s asked for one thing really and that’s to fight in Bournemouth. I know Matchroom don’t particularly like doing small shows but it’d be better to have a full 4k arena than a 25% full O2 and if that’s what he asked for then I don’t see the big deal.

The talked about Chamberlain fight will be In Bournemouth if it comes off.

Matchroom have done a few shows at the Cardiff Motorpoint which is probably only 4-5k, so don’t really see why they couldn’t do a Bournemouth show if a similar venue exists (I don’t know Bournemouth at all tbh). Definitely much better to have a full smaller arena than a bigger arena where most of it is cordoned off and the atmosphere is dead.

International Centre where they have WWE etc

[Spud]

Clearly Okolie has done well for himself, but soneone like Mairis Breidis smashes him to pieces

[daz74]

Okolie is deluded, thinking he’s better than what he actually is, not good enough to unify, doesn’t have a big fan base, good riddance, sky can have him back, hopefullly Riakpore beats him up

[cpx2]

Okolie is deluded, thinking he’s better than what he actually is, not good enough to unify, doesn’t have a big fan base, good riddance, sky can have him back, hopefullly Riakpore beats him up

He’s good enough to unify with the division in the state it is imo. Whether he has a chance against Briedis is another matter