Lawrence Okolie says he has a clear three-step route to a future heavyweight world title unification with Daniel Dubois. The first objective is straightforward: beat 2016 Olympic champion Tony Yoka when they meet in Paris on April 25. A victory, Okolie believes, would put him at No.1 among WBC contenders behind interim titlist Agit Kabayel.
From there the plan depends on the WBC and Oleksandr Usyk’s next moves. Okolie expects the federation to insist Usyk face his mandatory challenger Kabayel; if Usyk refuses or delays, Okolie wants Kabayel elevated or stripped so the full WBC title can become available. Okolie says he and other camps will push the WBC to make the right call, and hopes any decision will clear the way for a world-title fight in the autumn.
That’s why Okolie is so focused on Yoka: a strong win in Paris is the stepping stone to the next stage. He’s unbowed by Yoka’s home advantage and says the pressure of fighting in front of a partisan crowd could play into the contest—especially against an opponent who, Okolie insists, he can hurt if he lands clean shots.
Okolie also expects a path to a domestic showdown with Daniel Dubois. He’s backing Dubois to beat Fabio Wardley in May, citing Dubois’s greater experience at a high level and his power if the fight comes to trading blows. Okolie and Dubois go back years—sparring partners from their Great Britain days—and Okolie says those countless rounds give him confidence that a future clash between them is likely. His stated aim: win in France, win in Germany, then win in England and “be king of it all.”
There’s an added personal edge: Joe Joyce, Okolie’s former Olympic team-mate, lost a controversial Rio 2016 final to Yoka and has asked Okolie to settle the score. Okolie says that helps fuel his motivation.
With a sequence of wins and some pressure on the governing bodies, Okolie believes the pieces can fall into place for a full world-title opportunity and, ultimately, a unification bout with Dubois. Fans can also catch Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper live on Sky Sports on Sunday April 5.