Lawrence Okolie has stopped Lukasz Rozanski inside the first round to win the WBC bridgerweight title.
On the back of losing his WBO cruiserweight title to Chris Billam-Smith last summer, Okolie opted to make the step up in weight that is a division designed to suit fighters between 200lbs and 225lbs, rather than expose them to heavyweight.
Oleksandr Usyk made a mockery of that stipulation when defeating Tyson Fury last week, but the showdown in Poland carried meaning for Okolie as he bid to become a two-weight world champion.
Okolie's superior class shines through
Last April, Rozanski beat Alen Babic inside a round to suggest that he could be a force in this division, but he was ruthlessly blasted out by his British opponent in less than three minutes in Rzeszow.
A straight right down the pipe floored Rozanski inside the two-minute mark, with the 38-year-old looking visibly dazed as Okolie sensed an opportunity.
Okolie is the WBC bridgerweight world 👑#RozanskiOkolie pic.twitter.com/j1flqUdmUR
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 24, 2024
The second knockdown was not as clear-cut as the first, yet it was an indication that the end was nigh for Rozanski in front of his home fans.
Having briefly bided his time, 31-year-old Okolie landed another shot that sent Rozanski sprawling to the canvas via the ropes.
Although the referee administered a count, it was clear that he was in no fit state to continue and he had no complaints when the fight was waved off.
"The best moment in boxing for me"
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 24, 2024
Lawrence Okolie on becoming a two-weight world champion 🏆🏆#RozanskiOkolie pic.twitter.com/zVA5CtlrQy
Okolie must now decide to wait for a worthwhile opportunity to defend his title or accept any offers to move up to heavyweight, where he will already be regarded as a fringe contender.
Darren Plant
