Wednesday 18 January 2017 12:43, UK
Here's the essential reading about Lawrence Okolie, the new professional on the books of Matchroom.
Where have I heard that name before?
The 24-year-old was Great Britain’s heavyweight representative at last summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.
I remember! How did he get on?
He reached the last-16 of the tournament before a points defeat to Erislandy Savon of Cuba.
Okolie had boxed Savon once before and lost via a first-round stoppage, but at the second attempt he went the three-round distance with the Cuban who would eventually claim a bronze medal.
Savon lost to Anthony Joshua at London 2012, right? Maybe Okolie was watching?
He certainly was, but not with the intention of following in Joshua’s footsteps. Four years ago, Okolie was working at a fast food restaurant and watched Joshua win a gold medal during his break.
Thank goodness he started boxing, then!
Aged 17 in 2010, Okolie took up boxing purely to lose weight. He was clinically obese at 19st and needed to transform his lifestyle.
"Before I started boxing properly I was working in McDonald's, and I was watching the Olympics during my breaks whenever I could," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"It was the only thing to do! There was a particular break where Usain Bolt won the 100m then Anthony Joshua won gold. I felt something then.
"It was really inspirational. I started putting more work into training, and believing it more."
Yet now he’s got a physique like Joshua’s…
After a few local gyms realised his talent, Okolie joined the Repton facility in Bethnal Green, then switched to the Dagenham Boxing Club. As the weight fell off, his amateur hopes grew.
So he’s an east Londoner, then?
He certainly is. Hackney to be precise, the son of Nigerian parents.
"Without my mum's support it would have been hard for me to get here,” he said. “She is inspirational and always sends me messages.”
Does he have much amateur experience?
Remarkably, his Olympic defeat last summer was just his 26th amateur fight. It was a sizeable achievement for Okolie to even make it through the European qualification event, considering his inexperience.
He is the current European champion, and a two-time English University National champion.
What weight class will be fighting at?
He'll be a cruiserweight. You've all been warned!
What else does Okolie fill his time with?
He’s studying at the University of East London, having deferred his third year to focus on the Olympics. He’s reading Psychosocial Studies, so he’s a smart cookie.
