British boxer Lawrence Okolie is the present WBO cruiserweight champion; holding an unbeaten skilled document of 18-0, 14 of these victories coming by means of a knockout.

The previous Olympian, who has additionally held the Commonwealth, British, and European cruiserweight titles throughout his profession, will put his WBO belt on the road once more when he makes a compulsory protection towards New Zealand’s David Gentle on March 25 at London’s AO Area.

M&F was capable of sit down with “The Sauce” at his combat camp in Florida to be taught extra about his placing energy and accuracy, life as a champion versus being a challenger, and why Okolie feels that he’s not a pure athlete.

You may have been boxing because you have been a younger man, however at what level did you determine to take a position your entire life into being one of the best that you may be?

I will need to have been 19, actually, as a result of it was through the 2012 Olympics. I used to be watching Anthony Joshua and Luke Campbell and even Usain Bolt go on and win gold medals, however furthermore Joshua and Campbell, and Nicola Adams, and seeing them get their palms raised on the finish of an Olympic remaining … and particularly Anthony Joshua, as a result of he was somebody that I felt regarded like me and got here from an identical space, I actually felt like, “Oh, if he’s finished it, why can’t I”’ so, I actually knuckled down and left my job on the time, in a fast-food restaurant, and from there I simply pushed on.

As a younger man, did that call imply that you’d miss out on enjoyable with your folks? How was that?

Yeah. It nonetheless goes on now. Clearly, I get pleasure from hanging out with my associates, I’m nonetheless a human being, I get pleasure from all the similar stuff, however there are occasions, particularly in camp, the place I’ve to say, “It appears to be like good, however I’ve to say no.” Or [people will say] “Such and such is right here,” however I’ll nonetheless need to say no.

It’s very, very tough however I simply assume to myself that by way of sports activities you solely have a choose time period to realize what you probably can, so I don’t wish to ever look again and remorse that I went to that celebration or I stayed and had a drink with that woman, or I did this or I did that. I feel one of the best factor to do is keep disciplined, prepare as arduous as you’ll be able to after which no matter occurs, win lose or draw, so long as you’ve finished one of the best that you may, it is going to be what it’s.

Who’ve been a few of the heroes who’ve impressed you alongside the best way?

I feel it’s a combination between David Haye and Anthony Joshua; British, large guys, energy punchers, who additionally dealt with large events very properly. So now, once I’m in my fights, I simply assume to myself ‘these guys have been right here earlier than, I’m simply following in an identical footstep.’

You might be identified for having a really correct jab. Do you assume that is one thing that you just have been born with or do you must work on the thoughts and muscle connection to actually hone this?

Yeah, I feel it’s simply in regards to the time that you just put in. I used to be not athletic as a child in any respect. I used to be truly chubby to the purpose of needing to go and see a physician, who informed me the varied completely different issues I might develop if I didn’t get myself in form. So, it wasn’t like I used to be a naturally athletically gifted (fighter). You simply need to work at it. I feel in boxing particularly, as a sport, it’s about placing your self in tough and uncomfortable conditions the place it’s harmful, the place you must be taught, “Oh, If I don’t throw (a punch) issues are gonna occur.”

For accuracy, particularly, you’ll hit the pads the place there’s a small goal or you’ll be able to focus, when you find yourself in sparring, on not simply hitting someone (wherever) however truly aiming for a selected a part of the physique just like the shoulder versus simply the entire arm. I’d wish to hit the highest of the pinnacle, or the chin, or go for the fitting facet of the cheek.

How might somebody enhance their very own punching energy?

Practice up the punching muscle mass. Like, get your shoulders larger or your lats stronger. Or you are able to do extra pushups so that you just’ll positively be capable of punch more durable. It’s about discovering out which workouts be just right for you. Some individuals’s our bodies are constructed to be lengthy and elastic and others are extra quick and compact.

What you put on within the gymnasium have to be crucial to you, and you’re an envoy for BohooMan. What do you want about this clothes vary?

You already know, it’s snug. It’s breathable. They’ve completely different stuff for various periods. So, once I’m within the weights room I put on a distinct set from once I’m boxing. After I’m boxing, I wish to have my shoulders free. There are some days once I wish to sweat, and maintain the sweat, so I put on the extra cotton stuff. Different instances I need it to be extra sports activities particular so I’ll put on an lively prime that wicks the sweat away. I used to be carrying their stuff earlier than we ended up being companions.

You haven’t eaten meat, fish, or dairy since 2016. That is for each moral and dietary causes. It’s a desire that appears to work properly for you!

They’ve me on the lentils, the pulses, and chickpeas. Then it’s simply combined with sprouted this and spouted that, however you gotta do it. It helps me to really feel in form and energized. I made myself a promise that whereas I’m boxing, I’m not going to eat meat or drink alcohol. I’ve saved up with it, and it’s gone properly to date.

Folks usually say that it’s more durable to be the champion than it’s to be the challenger. Because the champ, what are your ideas on this?

For me, I nonetheless combat and prepare as if I’m a challenger. It feels completely different. If you end up the champion it’s not the identical starvation and chase, it’s extra that you’ve got one thing that you just wish to maintain maintain of and I kinda see it as a duty to maintain this now, a duty to behave like a champion and prepare like a champion. It’s a distinct sort of power, you simply have to seek out completely different motivations.

May unifying your title be a kind of motivations?

In fact. The one downside with that’s the different champions need to say, “Let’s do it.” I get pleasure from testing myself and I benefit from the feeling of my coronary heart beating.

You’ll be defending your WBO cruiserweight title towards David Gentle (18-0-0) on March 25. How are you feeling proper now?

I’m within the combat camp now. At the moment was a sparring session, and I’ll go in and do weights in round an hour and a half. Because of this I look so tough within the face. I haven’t had a haircut, nothing like that, I’m able to go. I’m simply pushing myself to the restrict and that’s it. All the time ferocious.