Lawrence Okolie’s quest to snare a big-name opponent and fight for a major title in the heavyweight division continues after Agit Kabayel seemingly snubbed his advances last weekend.
Kabayel stopped the overmatched Damian Knyba in three rounds in Oberhausen, Germany on Saturday. With the victory, the 27-0 (19 KOs) Kabayel defended the WBC interim strap and Okolie sits at No. 1 in those rankings. Oleksandr Usyk holds the only WBC heavyweight belt that really matters.
The Briton, 23-1 (17 KOs), was in Germany at the weekend hoping to catch Kabayel’s attention.
“I want Agit Kabayel next,” Okolie said. “It’s the only reason why I’m here in cold Germany. Agit calls himself the ‘boogeyman’. Well, don’t run scared. I’m staking my claim… I want you next.” However, after his victory, Kabayel indicated that Okolie was not in his plans as he hopes to secure a shot at Usyk.
"They don't have the same desire to fight Lawrence [as he has to fight them]," Okolie's trainer Joe Gallagher told BoxingScene.
Last month, at the WBC Convention in Bangkok, the sanctioning body recommended an eliminator between Okolie and Moses Itauma. Jermain Franklin takes on Itauma on January 24 and should the up-and-comer win as expected he will then need to decide if Okolie – and the WBC eliminator – is part of his plans. Okolie is also watching the Tyson Fury comeback closely, with the former champion expected to return in April against an opponent to be decided.
Okolie is a former WBO cruiserweight titlist and his lofty ranking at heavyweight – where he has won his last three fights – can be explained by winning the WBC bridgerweight title in the interim. He won that belt in May 2024 when he knocked out Lukasz Rozanski in one round, before opting to relinquish and move up a weight class. He has since beaten Hussein Muhamed, Kevin Lerena and, in December, Ebenezer Tetteh.
