Lawrence Okolie vows to point out he’s a category above Lukasz Rozanski as he prepares to tackle a hostile ambiance throughout his WBC world title battle at Bridgeway in Poland on Friday evening.
The previous WBO heavyweight titleholder will face Ryozanski within the champion’s hometown of Rzeszów. Akoli says he expects a “hostile” reception when he arrives at Podpramye.
“I am going there to beat their man,” Okolie mentioned Sky Sports activities.
“I count on it to be very hostile, however I will simply rule it out. Anyway, this specific battle will gas me, particularly as a result of I really feel like I want and wish to battle.”
Rozansky boasts a powerful document of 14 knockouts out of 15 wins. His newest win earned him the WBC world title after knocking out Alen Babich within the first spherical. Nevertheless, Okolie believes their battle will probably be a step ahead for the champion.
“He hasn’t met somebody of my class and skill, however on the finish of the day, we do not know what he is able to till the day.
“The factor is, you do not get 14 out of 15 knockout wins if you do not have something about you. So I’ve to respect him, respect what he is good at, and get the precise to cease him.
“I do know what he’ll include, we have seen it 15 instances, he is going all out, I’ll present him he is there with one other animal.
“I am trying ahead to roaring and getting in there and doing it viciously.”
Okolie’s battle would be the first to interrupt the 200-pound restrict since shifting to Bridgerweig. For Okolie, the burden class change is a chance to carry out with extra energy.
At Thursday’s weigh-in, Akoli weighed in at 101.4 kilograms, two ounces inside the bridgeweight restrict.
“Clearly, I’ve my very own reasoning behind the adjustments,” he mentioned.
“I believe loads of power was misplaced within the fitness center attempting to hit that restrict at heavyweight.
“I used to be identical to, ‘I do not care, let me simply win and get one other paycheck,’ whereas now I am in a scenario the place boxing is nice and also you receives a commission properly on the day, but it surely’s not my essential supply of earnings extra earnings.
“So I simply wish to are available and be explosive. And if I’ll put in all this difficult work and be away from my son, I higher have an explosive evening and make it depend.”
Rozanski looms as one thing of a knockout service provider, having made a reputation for himself with lightning-quick begins which have seen him cease 13 opponents in two rounds or much less. His explosive method, nevertheless, was additionally seen as a possibility for Okolie to showcase his personal knockout skills.
Okolie’s final battle led to defeat after he misplaced the WBO heavyweight title to Chris Beale-Smith in Could 2023. Billam-Smith to defend title at Selhurst Park on June 15 towards Riakporje, dwell Sky Sportwith Okolie backs Billam-Smith to win the battle.
“I believe Chris will win,” he mentioned.
“It is tough, I believe Chris will win as a result of he was in additional lively type, he beat the then world champion in me, who is best than Riakporhe, so I anticipated him to win.
“That mentioned, I believe Riakporje clearly has good hitting energy. Chris took loads of harm to his eye, which I believe will play an enormous half within the battle. Within the final battle, he seemed very weak till he landed a physique punch to complete it off.”
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