Boxing Mar 14, 2026

Lawrence Okolie predicts he will meet Daniel Dubois in a future world heavyweight championship unification

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Lawrence Okolie predicts he will meet Daniel Dubois in a future world heavyweight championship unification

Lawrence Okolie has a three-point plan that would see him fight Daniel Dubois in a heavyweight world title unification.

First, Okolie must beat 2016 Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka when they box in Paris on April 25.

Victory would leave Okolie as the WBC's No 1-ranked heavyweight contender, behind WBC Interim titlist and Oleksandr Usyk's mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.

If Usyk doesn't defend the full WBC title against Kabayel, Okolie expects to box the German for that world championship.

Usyk didn't defend his WBO belt against mandatory challenger Fabio Wardley and is now taking on kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in a crossover contest.

"Everyone's going to have to force the issue, Agit's team, my team, we're all going to have to force the position and hope that the WBC does the right thing," Okolie told Your Site.

"Usyk has to fight [Kabayel] and if he doesn't box him in a timely fashion and agree, strip him and then let him box whoever he wants to box at the end of the year and then we'll box in the autumn for the full world title.

"That's why I'm so eager to beat Yoka and beat him well because I know what comes off the back end of it. So I've just got to get it done."

He think Daniel Dubois will beat Fabio Wardley in May to win the WBO title and Okolie envisages boxing Dubois in a heavyweight world championship down the line.

"I sparred him loads, I've been sparring him since the Great Britain days, we've done countless rounds," Okolie said of Dubois. "My aim is to win in France, win in Germany, then win in England and be king of it all.

"I do think it probably will be me and Dan."

He added: "I think that Dubois is going to win because he's got a lot more experience at the level and he's beaten better guys. And I think that, stylistically as well, if they do start trading, unless Fabio's that much quicker than him, Dan definitely punches harder than him. So I think he'll probably hurt him.

"If they catch Dan early, hard then we could see a few repeats of some performances. But I'd be favouring Dan in that fight."

Okolie's Olympic team-mate Joe Joyce lost a controversial decision to Yoka in the super-heavyweight final at Rio 2016. He wants to exact some revenge.

"One hundred per cent," Okolie said. "Joe messaged me, actually, and said beat him up for me - and I will. I watched that fight live and I was so disappointed."

Even though Yoka will have home advantage, Okolie's confidence remains undimmed ahead of their contest.

"I'd like to see how he handles the pressure of the day, the fans cheering, the expectation and whatever else. When you've got all that and you've got someone like myself who you know at any point if I catch you properly is going to hurt you, it'll be interesting to see how that all boils together," Okolie said.

"I feel like in life there's winners and there's losers, and I think I'm more of a winner than he is. And that's why I expect to get this one done."

Watch the Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper bill live on Your Site on Sunday April 5.

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Mikaela Mayer signs with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions | 'I've always wanted the biggest and best fights'

Mikaela Mayer signs with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions | 'I've always wanted the biggest and best fights'

Three-division world champion Mikaela Mayer has signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.Mayer is the reigning WBC and WBA super-welterweight...

Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper feud ignites: 'As an athlete, as a fighter, as a person, I don’t rate you!'

Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper feud ignites: 'As an athlete, as a fighter, as a person, I don’t rate you!'

“She hasn’t done anything.”Caroline Dubois left Terri Harper lost for words.The Londoner subjected the three-weight world champion to a cold salvo of...

Terri Harper on facing hate: 'Just be your authentic self. Don’t change who you are'

Terri Harper on facing hate: 'Just be your authentic self. Don’t change who you are'

Professional boxing can be a hostile environment for members of the LGBTQ+ community.But Terri Harper, a multi-weight world champion, looks to help wh...

Jai Opetaia: Now Chris Billam-Smith doesn’t have a belt he wants to fight! I’ve never hand-picked a fight

Jai Opetaia: Now Chris Billam-Smith doesn’t have a belt he wants to fight! I’ve never hand-picked a fight

Jai Opetaia won’t move up to heavyweight until he has cleaned up the cruiserweight division.Already viewed as the world's leading 200lber, with his bl...

Alycia Baumgardner to defend unified super-featherweight titles against Bo Mi Re Shin over 10 three-minute rounds

Alycia Baumgardner to defend unified super-featherweight titles against Bo Mi Re Shin over 10 three-minute rounds

Alycia Baumgardner will fight top contender Bo Mi Re Shin over 10 three-minute rounds, the same round length as in men’s boxing, in New York City on A...

Oleksandr Usyk to fight Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois winner, then Tyson Fury| 'We're up for that!' says Frank Warren

Oleksandr Usyk to fight Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois winner, then Tyson Fury| 'We're up for that!' says Frank Warren

Promoter Frank Warren intends to open negotiations for Oleksandr Usyk to fight the winner of Fabio Wardley's world title clash with Daniel Dubois.Usyk...