LAWRENCE OKOLIE doesn’t see a heavyweight fight with Anthony Joshua ever happening. His mum Elizabeth wouldn’t allow it.
After beating Pole Krzysztof Golowacki in 2021, the Hackney-born cruiserweight is now a world champion.
Lawrence Okolie claims he won't fight Joshua, his manager and pal, because of his mom
Joshua and Okolie have both been signed to AJ's 258 management
Okolie also defended his WBO Cruiserweight twice, defeating challenges from Michal Cieslak and Dilan Prasovic.
Although Shane McGuigan, Okolie's trainer, is eager to unite titles at 14st 4lbs first; there is talk of a move to heavyweight.
Joshua Okolie, Okolie's mentor and manager, hopes to reclaim the WBA and WBO world titles from Oleksandr Uzyk on Saturday, making any moves into boxing’s glamour division a bit awkward.
"The Sauce" insists that he won't fight Joshua because Elizabeth, his mother, is too obsessed with AJ.
He stated, "I plan unify, and I plan to move up in the heavyweight division."
"But, I believe [the Joshua fight] would create a conflict between interests.
"It's not in my plans. His life and his boxing have been an inspiration.
"My mum would not accept it. She would root for AJ, I believe. This is one that I don't really see. He is her best friend.
"She is aware of the impact he's had on me. She has witnessed the change in me. They've spoken. She supports him and root for him.
"If you say, "I'm pushing all this to the side and going after the money or whatever,". It's not something I think she would be too thrilled about.
"It won’t happen in my view unless AJ turned around and said 'I would ...' but that I don’t see happening."
Okolie's career has been guided by Joshua and 258 Management up to now.
Okolie had to face Glowacki, which was Okolie's most difficult task. But the 29-year old is coping well with the pressure.
He said, "I don’t need people giving my pep talks like "This is your turn" and crying on the telephone. It is straightforward and it is 'Handle business and win'.
"Those things are what hit. This is the energy we're going with."
"To be in such a position people see it as pressure, but I don’t see it that way.
"Having my face all over the place and people calling me Okolie, this is your big moment." It doesn't make it feel pressure. I feel happy and like "Wow, this is another time that I'm on the centre stage."
Okolie has defender is world cruiserweight crown twice
Glowacki was defeated by the Brit for the 2021 world title
