Lawrence Okolie and Dillian Whyte are two men who did not enjoy the 2023 they would have hoped for – albeit for very different reasons.
Okolie lost his world cruiserweight title to former stablemate Chris Billlam-Smith, whilst Whyte was at the centre of another performance enhancing drugs scandal that saw his money-spinning rematch with Anthony Joshua scrapped.
It remains unclear what the long-term plan is for either fighter, however this week Okolie made no secret of the fact he wants to lock horns with ‘The Bodysnatcher.’
Both men are now in their thirties and are likely focused on securing the biggest fights possible.
‘The Sauce’ told Sky Sports that he has had his eyes on Whyte for a while, despite the difference in weight between them.
“Dillian Whyte’s now back. Obviously everyone knows from back when I was Commonwealth and British champion I wanted that fight so that’s definitely one on my radar.
“Outside of that we’ll see what the landscape looks like.”
The former Olympian added that he very much envisages a move up to heavyweight, regardless of whether that presents itself against Whyte or not.
“I’ve been looking at the heavyweights and seeing how much fun they’ve been having up there. I want to have a go as well.”
Okolie will move up to the recently formed and only partially recognised bridgerweight division on May 24th, when he takes on WBC champion Lukasz Rozanski in Poland.
The undefeated Rozanski destroyed Alen Babic in one round in his homeland last April, and has won all bar one of his fifteen professional contests by knockout.
Łukasz Różański DEMOLISHED Alen Babic last time out 😳
Will he be able to do similar to Lawrence Okolie? 🔮#RozanskiOkolie | May 24 pic.twitter.com/zVfMOVwgfr
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) March 21, 2024
That said, a fight against Okolie represents a significant jump up in pedigree and is one in which most people view the Brit a clear favourite.
As for Whyte, his heart seems set on landing a lucrative date with one of the heavyweight division’s big names – and one gets the sense a second showdown with Joshua is still at the top of his list.
The 37-year-old told Talksport he still has “unfinished business” with ‘AJ’, whom he has known since the pair were unpaid novices.
