A man named Delicious is the most diverse character in England's entire team for next month’s Commonwealth Games.
Delicious Orie, a 16-stone-plus, 6ft 6in super-heavyweight, will be one the gold medal favorites of the boxing team.
Delicious Orie shows off his talents in the ring
Orie, 25, is a great role model for immigrant kids trying to overcome adversity and integrate into this country.
Delicious is a product of a technicolor background. His father Justin was from Nigeria and his mother Natalie is Russian. He was born in Moscow. On a daily basis, the family was subject to obscene and violent racism.
Justin was attacked on public transport and he fled Russia with his family. He settled in Wolverhampton.
Delicious stated: "I was seven years old when I arrived here, and I didn't know a word English. It caused me some cultural problems."
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"But life in Moscow was much more difficult - some people didn’t like me simply because of my skin colour."
Young Orie was able to overcome his difficulties and thrive in his new environment quickly. Orie was offered a spot at Aston University, and he graduated with 1st class honours economics.
He was a basketball player in his teens and never became interested in boxing until he watched Anthony Joshua fight Charles Martin on TV.
Delicious said to me that AJ was my idol from that point on. I joined the Jewellery Quarter Boxing Club, Birmingham, and discovered that I was a very good boxer.
FREE BETTING AND SIGN-UP DEALS - THE BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERINGSThey say you should never meet your idols or you'll be disappointed. He was supportive and kind, even though I met him once.
"He has been a tremendous help to me in many ways, including helping me balance my body, learn about diet and perfecting my jab.
"People tell me that I'm the new AJ, but I want to be better than him."
Orie, who didn't begin boxing until he turned 18, has made incredible progress under Mick Maguire. Despite not having any youth experience, he's only lost 5 of 45 contests.
He said he is more like a Muhammad Ali rather than a Mike Tyson because he relies on speed.
He received his British citizenship over a year ago and it was a style that earned him a bronze medal at European championships in Armenia.
Delicious's academic credentials are no surprise. He is very articulate and well-informed. He will not accept any incentives to become a pro, even if he wins the gold medal at the NEC arena in August 7.
Ortie stated that he wanted to box for Britain in the Paris Olympics in two year's time. I will turn 27 in two years, which is a young age for a heavyweight. What I don't have is experience because I started late.
"I look at it this way: by the time that I believe I'll be good enough for pro AJ Fury and Usyk will have retired.
"And if that doesn't work out, I have my degree and can get into a business career.
Maguire has coached many promising young people and predicts that "With hardwork and the right breaks Delicious could achieve all that AJ has, and I think maybe even surpass that."
Orie sees the war in Ukraine as the darkest cloud in his life. Orie revealed that he has family in Russia and Ukraine, and finds this terrible war soul-destroying.
I had to ask him if the Christian name he was given by his parents had caused him any embarrassment or grief growing up, just like the "Boy called Sue", country and western icon Johnny Cash sang about.
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He laughed and said, "Not at all. In fact, I rather like Delicious. It's different. It's different. But, I prefer to be called DJ by my initials.
You can bet that he will become the Commonwealth champion.
