Undefeated cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie (12-0) has no doubt that he will eventually go up in weight to the heavyweight division.
The 26-year-old boxer, less than three years as a pro, has picked up the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles and wants to capture a European or world title before a move in weight.
But at the same time he doesn't want to stick around the cruiserweight ranks for too much longer.
At 6'5, Okolie certainly has the size to be a heavyweight.
In the last few months, two of the top cruiserweights - Oleksandr Usyk and Murat Gassiev - have made their move to heavyweight.
Okolie and top heavyweight Dillian Whyte have exchanged words in the past, and they share the same promoter in Eddie Hearn. It could be a fight for the future.
“There’s only so much longer that I want to be at cruiserweight. I’m doing it because I need to learn certain stuff - not to hold, when to punch, just get my experience. As much as cruiserweights are still very dangerous, it’s a different kind of danger because it’s not that one-punch power, usually, it’s multiple punches," Okolie told The Mirror.
“Cruiserweights are hard-hitting, but also very athletic and fast. It’s about learning at this weight, then move up with a bit more experience and a few more titles behind me.
“If I win a European title, maybe a world title, then move up to heavyweight you have to respect it, it’s not just doing it for talk. I want to do it with action. It’s a great time to be a heavyweight. There are a lot of great fights, a lot of great fighters and I’ve sparred with a lot of heavyweights, all of the top heavyweights there are in Britain. But sparring and fighting are two different things, so it’d be interesting to see how it would play out.
“At the end of the day, I know I hit hard enough to make anyone respect it. Nobody can just walk through my punches, so it will be interesting to see what happens when I get older and physically stronger. I’m still only 26 right now, so I’m at the mid-stage of my career I think and as I get bigger and stronger I’ll be able to do more damage. I think I’ll be a good heavyweight.”
