Sky Sports activities pundit George Groves says a possible heavyweight showdown with Deontay Wilder might be on the horizon after Lawrence Okolie captured the WBC Bridgerweiss world title.
The British fighter, who returned to the ring nearly a yr after shedding a majority determination to Chris Billam-Smith for the WBO heavyweight crown, knocked down Lukasz Rozanski thrice en path to a first-round submission victory in Poland to say the belt on Friday.
A possible unification conflict with WBA bridgehead champion Yevgeny Tishchenko might be on the playing cards, however former tremendous middleweight champion Groves believes former heavyweight king Wilder might be tempted to struggle Okoli for the belt if the American’s heavyweight choices are restricted.
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George Groves believes Deontay Wilder may take into account dealing with Okoli sooner or later if he does not see a transparent path to a different world heavyweight title struggle
“I believe it is time to capitalize on being a world champion,” Groves stated. Sky Sports activities.
“There’s going to be a number of big-name heavyweights on the market who aren’t very huge, who might be considering, ‘Am I ever going to win the world heavyweight championship within the close to future? Possibly not, however I could be world champion if I struggle Lawrence Okoli.”
“I believe perhaps Wilder is that character who says, ‘I am such an enormous title, I am a former heavyweight champion of the world, I do not see myself getting a shot at a world heavyweight title any time quickly. , however why not develop into a two-weight world champion preventing in Bridgerweight?”
Bridgerweight was launched by the WBC in 2020 between heavyweight and heavyweight, and was acknowledged by the WBA three years later with a weight restrict of 14lbs to 16lbs.
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Okolie described his “greatest night time in boxing” after claiming the WBC bantamweight title with a first-round knockout of Ryozanski
The WBC and WBA limits span the normal decrease heavyweight restrict, and Akoli weighed in near the higher bridgeweight restrict for his conflict with Rozansky. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old has no preferences about what comes subsequent.
“I’ve a should or mix if I will keep at this weight or transfer as much as heavyweight,” Okolie stated Sky Sports activities.
“It is determined by what alternatives come up, there is no one at any weight I would not field at.
“If the chance comes up at heavyweight or if I must defend my belt or get the unification, I will do it.”
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Joe Gallagher desires Okolie to unify WBC and WBA world titles in Bridgeway
Okolie’s coach Joe Gallagher admitted he would don’t have any downside towards the smaller heavyweights, citing similarities in weight with the likes of Wilder and undisputed champion Alexander Usyk.
Nevertheless, Gallagher desires to see Okolie wrest the WBA bridgeweight belt from Tishchenko earlier than transferring as much as the blue-ribbon division.
“There are good unification fights and there are smaller heavyweights,” Gallagher stated Sky Sports activities.
“Deontay Wilder is simply 15 and a half years outdated [stone]…and the heavyweights, Lawrence is there in the mean time.
“I might prefer to see him mix that with the WBA championship after which transfer as much as heavyweight.”
Watch Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakpora struggle for the WBO heavyweight title at Selhurst Park dwell on Sky Sports activities on Saturday 15 June.