Lawrence Okolie Inks Deal with Frank Warren and Queensberry After Eddie Hearn Fallout
Lawrence Okolie has officially signed with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions after a contentious split from Eddie Hearn and Matchroom in late 2022. The British boxer expressed his frustrations towards Hearn following their parting, describing the Matchroom chief as “malicious, bitter, and jealous”. In the aftermath, Okolie went on to compete under Boxxer and Ben Shalom for three matches.
Despite Okolie’s earlier statements about hoping to mend fences with Hearn, the former cruiserweight and bridgerweight champion has now found a new home with Warren. This development comes as Okolie, aged 31, sets his sights on transitioning to the heavyweight division. Having previously held the WBO cruiserweight title before relinquishing it to Chris Billam-Smith in 2023, Okolie captured the WBC bridgerweight belt in May only to vacate it this month.
In a press release on Friday, Okolie declared, “There is only one place. If you are a heavyweight in Britain or the world, it is the Warrens.” He praised Warren’s stable for housing the top heavyweights in various career stages, indicating his excitement for his own heavyweight aspirations. Okolie expressed his eagerness to pursue his dream of becoming a three-weight world champion in the heavyweight division, expressing relief at no longer having to endure the challenges of making weight.
Warren expressed his confidence in Okolie, stating that the boxer’s move to heavyweight would allow his natural talent and power to shine without the constraints of weight cutting. The veteran promoter highlighted the plethora of thrilling matchups awaiting Okolie in the heavyweight scene, with Queensberry recently adding British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley to their roster.
Warren, at 72 years old, manages a stable of top heavyweights, including the likes of Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker, and Zhilei Zhang. The acquisition of Okolie further bolsters Queensberry’s heavyweight lineup, promising an exciting chapter in the boxer’s career.
In conclusion, the boxing world eagerly anticipates Lawrence Okolie’s journey in the heavyweight division under the guidance of Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions. With a promising career trajectory and aspirations of multiple world championships, Okolie’s transition marks a significant shift in his professional endeavours.