Eddie Hearn has backed Lawrence Okolie to become WBC bridgerweight champion, but feels his former fighter has been badly advised.
Hearn signed Okolie to a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing when he turned professional after he competed for Team GB at the 2016 Olympics and took the Londoner to a world cruiserweight title.
However, their relationship ended sourly and in a lawsuit, due to a dispute over how long the 31-year-old had left on his contract, with a settlement concluding last May.
Okolie also parted ways with trainer Shane McGuigan and saw his WBO title ripped away by former stablemate Chris Billam-Smith, with the gameplan masterminded by his ex-coach.
‘The Sauce’ will look to bounce back from his first professional defeat when he moves up to bridgerweight – the division between cruiserweight and heavyweight – to challenge Lukasz Rozanski for the WBC crown in Poland on May 24, with the Pole claiming the belt with a first round stoppage over Alen Babic last April.
Hearn feels the Hackney man has suffered the consequences of poor guidance and despite a bitter end to their partnership, the Essex promoter insists he still wants to see his former charge get back to winning ways.
“I think he definitely needs to step-up [in weight],” the Matchroom boss told Seconds Out.
“It kind of gives you the opportunity to say ‘I’m a two-weight world champion’, whilst crossing your fingers behind your back.
“He’s got to do it in Poland. I guess that’s quite exciting and Rozanski’s very limited.
“But, I feel very sorry for Lawrence.
“He was in such a great position. We cared about him. Anthony Joshua, 258 [MGT] cared about him, but sometimes you just listen to the wrong people who don’t really care about you, but you get convinced to do something and it’s been a disaster.
“But, hopefully he can get back on the horse and he can win and I’d like to see him move up to heavyweight at some point.
“I think that’s probably where he’ll end up being.”
