Lawrence Okolie has revealed Anthony Joshua's advice before turning professional
Wednesday 18 January 2017 17:37, UK
Lawrence Okolie has revealed the advice he got from Anthony Joshua before making the decision to turn professional.
Having competed for Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Okolie was recently announced as the latest signing for Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.
The 24-year-old is hoping to continue his remarkable rise up the ranks, having taken up boxing only four years ago, and it was Anthony Joshua's rise to heavyweight world champion that inspired the cruiserweight.
Okolie is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Joshua and he has revealed the advice he got from 'AJ' before making the decision to join the paid ranks.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, he said: "My goal was always to turn professional, even before I got on the GB amateur squad, but I wanted to go to the Olympics and win a medal as a stepping stone before turning over - unfortunately I fell short.
"A few people have tried to sign me since, but I went with Matchroom as I've been watching what they've been doing for a while and their relationship with Sky Sports is a great one.
"What they've done with people in my position before me, former Olympians or GB boxers from 2012, and looking at where they are now gives me the confidence and belief for the future.
"Joshua is one of those fighters and I asked for his advice before making the decision. He told me to follow my gut instinct and heart and make sure it is something I definitely want to.
"AJ told me how it's very easy for different people to give you advice about your career, but if it's not what you want to do in yourself then you will never be able to appreciate it and will always have regret. Once it's the decision in your heart, win, lose or draw, you know it's your decision."
Despite his Olympic loss, Okolie is confident that he is tailor-made for the professional ranks and is hopeful of reaching the higher echelons of the division as soon as possible.
He continued: "Other than Joshua, [Erislandy] Savon, the Cuban who beat me in the Olympics, is the best fighter I've shared a ring with. It didn't bother me facing him though, I always love turning up and having a fight.
"Savon was very good but, in terms of ability or fear, there is not a boxer in the world who I would be worried to get in there with.
"As long as I am able to develop the way I am doing and continue to have the self-belief and ability that I have and work on it, I don't see a reason why I won't be able to mix it and beat the best in the world."
The future is bright and I would love a rivalry down the line that will bring out my competitive and more viscous side. When it's a deeply meaningful battle you get the best performance that creates the magic that lives on past your fighting years.
The Hackney boxer has already enjoyed sparring sessions with the likes of Joshua, and Okolie has admitted that it has given him the ultimate assurance for the road ahead.
"It's a great learning curve and it gives you amazing confidence when you spar someone like AJ. When you see someone destroying opponents left, right and centre and smashing sparring partners up, it gives you great self-belief when you manage to do alright in the ring with him.
"Hopefully, I will get to spar AJ before his Klitschko fight that'll be very good for me as well. I'm pretty tall like Klitschko, perhaps with a bit of a faster jab than him so it will definitely be worthwhile for AJ too.
"I want to be out regularly and am hoping to get on pretty much every big card this year, including the big Wembley show.
"The future is bright and I would love a rivalry down the line that will bring out my competitive and more viscous side. When it's a deeply meaningful battle you get the best performance out of two people and that creates the magic that lives on past your fighting years."
