Lawrence Okolie

[Wee Tommy]

Why does he want to train in Dubai anyway?

Because it’s warm all year round, has great gyms, no income tax, 5% VAT, 60p per litre petrol and makes that shit hole UK look like a third world country.

Don’t know if any of that would make sense to a boxer looking to earn a lot of money and have a happy training environment

All makes sence , UNLESS your knocking on the door for world title honors , big money and need a good trainer and most of all good sparring

Loads of boxers out here. I’m not saying I agree with Okelies actions but it isn’t hard to see why he wants out of the UK.

The only reason I go back to Scotland is to see my friends and get out in the mountains and countryside. The majority of the towns and cites are rubbish, overpriced and teeming with junkies.

[coneye]

Think your describing most of the western world there , weve gone soft let the scumbags take over

[jameswilson]

Lawrence Okolie - The face of sky boxing - a face only a mother could love but the face none the less!

[mickey1975]

The mandatory has been called, David Light from New Zealand. Would Eddie send Lawrence to Aus/NZ?

[joshj909]

The mandatory has been called, David Light from New Zealand. Would Eddie send Lawrence to Aus/NZ?

Not the big fight he needs or should be wanting

[margaret thatcher]

light would be a good first defense for jai

[KiwiRider]

The mandatory has been called, David Light from New Zealand. Would Eddie send Lawrence to Aus/NZ?

Not the big fight he needs or should be wanting

Having followed Light from the Ams to the pros, its not a bad matchup. He isn't the best cruiser NZ has produced, but David Nyika has moved up to heavyweight as a pro and had made short work of Light in his final fight as an amateur.
Realistically Light needs another step up (or two) fight in order to be on a level with Okolie. He is also giving away quite a bit in height and reach, luckily Light can move, still up against it I feel.
If I had to put a number on it, I would say 65/35 to Okolie. Still should be competitive while it lasts.
Light has only been stopped once, and that was by Nyika who I rate as a potential heavyweight contender if he gets the right backing.

[maverick23]

The mandatory has been called, David Light from New Zealand. Would Eddie send Lawrence to Aus/NZ?

This is a perfect fight I think for all involved. Eddie can do a low bid for the fight. If he wins the purse bids then he puts it on wherever he likes - I’d imagine New Zealand.

If he loses the purse bid then he gets his % from Lawrence’s split and their deal will come to an end.

Boxxer may go hard for it too. Not sure who promotes Light - anyone know?

[KiwiRider]

The mandatory has been called, David Light from New Zealand. Would Eddie send Lawrence to Aus/NZ?

This is a perfect fight I think for all involved. Eddie can do a low bid for the fight. If he wins the purse bids then he puts it on wherever he likes - I’d imagine New Zealand.

If he loses the purse bid then he gets his % from Lawrence’s split and their deal will come to an end.

Boxxer may go hard for it too. Not sure who promotes Light - anyone know?

He is sort of co promoted by Duco and Peach gym where he is trained. Dean Longergan is his main guy internationally, the same guy that works alongside David Higgins with Joseph Parker, Junior Fa and David Nyika.
So plenty of priors working with Sky, Boxxer, Matchroom and DAZN.

[maverick23]

The mandatory has been called, David Light from New Zealand. Would Eddie send Lawrence to Aus/NZ?

This is a perfect fight I think for all involved. Eddie can do a low bid for the fight. If he wins the purse bids then he puts it on wherever he likes - I’d imagine New Zealand.

If he loses the purse bid then he gets his % from Lawrence’s split and their deal will come to an end.

Boxxer may go hard for it too. Not sure who promotes Light - anyone know?

He is sort of co promoted by Duco and Peach gym where he is trained. Dean Longergan is his main guy internationally, the same guy that works alongside David Higgins with Joseph Parker, Junior Fa and David Nyika.
So plenty of priors working with Sky, Boxxer, Matchroom and DAZN.

Thanks.

I think it goes to purse bids, Boxxer win and do a deal with Higgins to give them a piece of the broadcasting in NZ.

[cpx2]

Does that mean Jack and Kovalev (among others) turned down the shot? Seems odd

[Ruthless-RKO]

From the WBA

“On December 5, 2022, this Committee ordered the commencement of negotiations between Team Okolie and Team Light as per the notice issued,” WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas stated to all parties via official letter, a copy of which was obtained by BS.com. “The parties were granted 20-days to reach an agreement or purse bid proceedings would be called per WBO Rules and Regulations.

“Immediately upon issuance of the notice order, representatives of Team Okolie and Matchroom Boxing began arguing about which party had the right to be included and notified of all official rulings by the WBO pertaining to Okolie. Certainly, the above-referenced communications between Team Okolie and Matchroom Boxing reflect opposite positions and/or versions as to the promotional representation of Okolie.

“Therefore, considering the conflicting circumstances between the parties and the lack of communication going forward during the negotiation proceedings, this Committee strongly believes that purse bid proceedings shall be ordered immediately. In doing so, we avoid a futile negotiation process and a further delay in discharging the mandatory title defense obligation.”

[maverick23]

Will be interesting to see what happens. If Matchroom don’t win the purse bid then they will expect their commission (I think it’s usually 20%). Could get real messy.

Lawrence would be best off just letting them have it and moving on.

Will Okolie even fight on a Matchroom show if they win the bids?

[Dioufy]

Will be interesting to see what happens. If Matchroom don’t win the purse bid then they will expect their commission (I think it’s usually 20%). Could get real messy.

Lawrence would be best off just letting them have it and moving on.

Will Okolie even fight on a Matchroom show if they win the bids?

Then he will lose the WBO and still not be able to fight elsewhere until the one fight remaining contract dispute is settled.

Lawrence would be best to defend his WBO against Light for not big money on a Matchroom show, lose a bit of face and move on. He won’t though… he’s being stubborn.

He could end up losing his world title and not fighting for another 12 months plus if this rumbles on.

Messy indeed.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Who ever advised Okolie is stupid. Unless he's advised himself.

If there was differences, he should have just gone quietly and then talked shit after.

He could have easily have fullfilled his Matchroom contract by now and already be scheduled for a Sky Boxxer event early next year.

[tony1234]

Who ever advised Okolie is stupid. Unless he's advised himself.

If there was differences, he should have just gone quietly and then talked shit after.

He could have easily have fullfilled his Matchroom contract by now and already be scheduled for a Sky Boxxer event early next year.

I don't understand how he thinks he is worth anything, he's basically unknown with no public profile. He doesn't bring anything to the table, can't see DAZN missing him but it's good he's made to fulfil his contract

[handsofstone]

The worst thing is that the longer this drags on the less Boxxer need him, I think they only wanted him initially to bolster their stable and be the poster boy for boxing on Sky but Adam Azim has took that mantle

[Ruthless-RKO]

The worst thing is that the longer this drags on the less Boxxer need him, I think they only wanted him initially to bolster their stable and be the poster boy for boxing on Sky but Adam Azim has took that mantle

I agree.

They also have Eubank, who is the more experienced name.

He's Wasserman, but i'm sure they'll keep working with Sky.

[gregregegg]

The worst thing is that the longer this drags on the less Boxxer need him, I think they only wanted him initially to bolster their stable and be the poster boy for boxing on Sky but Adam Azim has took that mantle

Yea, that face of sky spot is probably a pretty limmited time offer. Hard to say whos at fault without having eyes on the contract, but if Okolie really has a fight left on contract and then has gone out shit talking his boss then geeze he is an idiot.

Crazy how people kinda just expect hearn to let him out of contract, even though he has invested so much in okolie. hope it gets resolved quick because i hate it when the lawyers are the only winners, but i think Sky/okolie might have to buy him out of his contract here because good faith has been killed.

[maverick23]

The worst thing is that the longer this drags on the less Boxxer need him, I think they only wanted him initially to bolster their stable and be the poster boy for boxing on Sky but Adam Azim has took that mantle

Yea, that face of sky spot is probably a pretty limmited time offer. Hard to say whos at fault without having eyes on the contract, but if Okolie really has a fight left on contract and then has gone out shit talking his boss then geeze he is an idiot.

Crazy how people kinda just expect hearn to let him out of contract, even though he has invested so much in okolie. hope it gets resolved quick because i hate it when the lawyers are the only winners, but i think Sky/okolie might have to buy him out of his contract here because good faith has been killed.

Okolie left his management team, is trying to leave Eddie and seemingly isn’t with McGuigan anymore.

His old management team (258) said that he had a fight left with Matchroom.

From what I’ve read/seen I think Okolie’s argument is that his contract is up because Matchroom changed broadcast partner which he didn’t agree to. I’d be amazed if there’s a get out for him on that in the contract.

I just get the impression he’s got the wrong people around him now and is taking bad advice.

If he’d kept quiet, he could have snuck a defence in 4/5 months back and then be looking forward to a big fight on Sky against Riakporhe.

[wrighty]

Will be interesting to see what happens. If Matchroom don’t win the purse bid then they will expect their commission (I think it’s usually 20%). Could get real messy.

Lawrence would be best off just letting them have it and moving on.

Will Okolie even fight on a Matchroom show if they win the bids?

Then he will lose the WBO and still not be able to fight elsewhere until the one fight remaining contract dispute is settled.

Lawrence would be best to defend his WBO against Light for not big money on a Matchroom show, lose a bit of face and move on. He won’t though… he’s being stubborn.

He could end up losing his world title and not fighting for another 12 months plus if this rumbles on.

Messy indeed.

He will lose his title like Lerrone then end up fighting for an English title lol

[BigDoofus]

[Boxerbeetle]

Care to post a summary of that? Or are we doing a forum watch-along?

[BigDoofus]

[Glass Joe]