Negotiations are underway for ex-WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie to face veteran heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz. Okolie, 32, is making the move to heavyweight after outgrowing the cruiserweight division in 2023. Meeting the soon-to-be 46-year-old Ortiz could be his first real test in the new weight class.
Okolie’s last big outing was a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Chris Billam-Smith on May 27, 2023, a fight in which he was dropped twice and deducted points for frequent clinching. He’ll need a sharper performance against Ortiz, who still possesses considerable power. Ortiz last fought in January 2024, scoring a quick first-round stoppage of journeyman Francisco Cordero, and he remains a dangerous foe despite his age.
For Okolie, this matchup could be a stepping stone to bigger names at heavyweight. However, if he shows the same vulnerabilities he displayed against Billam-Smith, he may find himself on the wrong end of Ortiz’s knockout punch. A loss here would be a major setback for Okolie, who’s hoping to secure a lucrative title opportunity before the current top heavyweights like Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk move on.
Lawrence Okolie career is here.
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