Boxing Mar 30, 2026

Lawrence Okolie predicts he will meet Daniel Dubois in a future world heavyweight championship unification

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Lawrence Okolie predicts he will meet Daniel Dubois in a future world heavyweight championship unification

Lawrence Okolie has a three-point plan that would see him fight Daniel Dubois in a heavyweight world title unification.

First, Okolie must beat 2016 Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka when they box in Paris on April 25.

Victory would leave Okolie as the WBC's No 1-ranked heavyweight contender, behind WBC Interim titlist and Oleksandr Usyk's mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.

If Usyk doesn't defend the full WBC title against Kabayel, Okolie expects to box the German for that world championship.

Usyk didn't defend his WBO belt against mandatory challenger Fabio Wardley and is now taking on kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in a crossover contest.

"Everyone's going to have to force the issue, Agit's team, my team, we're all going to have to force the position and hope that the WBC does the right thing," Okolie told Your Site.

"Usyk has to fight [Kabayel] and if he doesn't box him in a timely fashion and agree, strip him and then let him box whoever he wants to box at the end of the year and then we'll box in the autumn for the full world title.

"That's why I'm so eager to beat Yoka and beat him well because I know what comes off the back end of it. So I've just got to get it done."

He think Daniel Dubois will beat Fabio Wardley in May to win the WBO title and Okolie envisages boxing Dubois in a heavyweight world championship down the line.

"I sparred him loads, I've been sparring him since the Great Britain days, we've done countless rounds," Okolie said of Dubois. "My aim is to win in France, win in Germany, then win in England and be king of it all.

"I do think it probably will be me and Dan."

He added: "I think that Dubois is going to win because he's got a lot more experience at the level and he's beaten better guys. And I think that, stylistically as well, if they do start trading, unless Fabio's that much quicker than him, Dan definitely punches harder than him. So I think he'll probably hurt him.

"If they catch Dan early, hard then we could see a few repeats of some performances. But I'd be favouring Dan in that fight."

Okolie's Olympic team-mate Joe Joyce lost a controversial decision to Yoka in the super-heavyweight final at Rio 2016. He wants to exact some revenge.

"One hundred per cent," Okolie said. "Joe messaged me, actually, and said beat him up for me - and I will. I watched that fight live and I was so disappointed."

Even though Yoka will have home advantage, Okolie's confidence remains undimmed ahead of their contest.

"I'd like to see how he handles the pressure of the day, the fans cheering, the expectation and whatever else. When you've got all that and you've got someone like myself who you know at any point if I catch you properly is going to hurt you, it'll be interesting to see how that all boils together," Okolie said.

"I feel like in life there's winners and there's losers, and I think I'm more of a winner than he is. And that's why I expect to get this one done."

Watch the Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper bill live on Your Site on Sunday April 5.

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Tony Bellew backs Anthony Joshua to beat Tyson Fury: 'He’s the one with the destructive power of the two'

Tony Bellew backs Anthony Joshua to beat Tyson Fury: 'He’s the one with the destructive power of the two'

Anthony Joshua can still beat Tyson Fury, says former world champion Tony Bellew.Fury that he is willing to take on his British rival Joshua after hi...

Sebastian Fundora demolishes Keith Thurman in Las Vegas to retain WBC super-welterweight title

Sebastian Fundora demolishes Keith Thurman in Las Vegas to retain WBC super-welterweight title

Sebastian Fundora handed Keith Thurman the first stoppage defeat of his career as he demolished his fellow American inside six rounds to retain the WB...

Jake Paul expects to return to boxing late in the year but is 'serious' about fighting Oleksandr Usyk in MMA bout

Jake Paul expects to return to boxing late in the year but is 'serious' about fighting Oleksandr Usyk in MMA bout

Jake Paul expects to return to boxing later this year, but needs to recover fully from his broken jaw.Paul, a social media influencer turned professio...

Tyson Fury: I was happily retired, but there’s nothing like a UK stadium fight | 'Makhmudov's in trouble!'

Tyson Fury: I was happily retired, but there’s nothing like a UK stadium fight | 'Makhmudov's in trouble!'

Tyson Fury keeps trying to quit boxing. Yet, of course, just when he’s out, it pulls him back in.Fury insists he never meant to come back to boxing. Y...

Terri Harper condemns Caroline Dubois ahead of April 5 clash: 'I don’t like rude people. I don’t like bullies'

Terri Harper condemns Caroline Dubois ahead of April 5 clash: 'I don’t like rude people. I don’t like bullies'

Terri Harper insists their growing enmity will only fuel her in her fight against Caroline Dubois.Harper and Dubois put their WBO and WBC lightweight...

Jake Paul says he will buy Ellie Scotney a car if she beats Mayelli Flores to become undisputed champion

Jake Paul says he will buy Ellie Scotney a car if she beats Mayelli Flores to become undisputed champion

Jake Paul says he will buy Ellie Scotney a car if she wins this weekend. Scotney, who is signed to Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, will become the UK...