Date: Friday, May 24, 2024
USA Start Time: 2:00 PM EST
UK Start Time: 7:00 PM GMT
Streaming: Live on Sky Sports (UK and Ireland)
Venue: Podpromie Arena, Rzeszow, Poland
Lawrence Okolie, our very own British bruiser and former ruler of the cruiserweight seas, is off on a jolly to Poland. He’s not going for the pierogi, though; he’s after the WBC World Bridgerweight Title, currently snug around Lukasz Rozanski’s waist, in what’s shaping up to be more than just a polite tiff at the Podpromie Arena this May 24th.
Okolie, who’s already got a room full of belts, fancies adding a bit of Polish hardware to his collection. And why not? He’s stepping up a weight, ready to teach his fists some new tricks above the 200lbs mark. His last dance with Chris Billam-Smith didn’t go as planned, but that’s water under the bridge, or over the scales, you might say.
Then there’s Rozanski, the home hero with a habit of turning his bouts into short stories — mostly of the “thud, and they were gone” variety. With fourteen of his fifteen wins by knockout, you’d think he was more baker than boxer, serving up his own kind of Polish pastries — the kind that leave you snoozing on the canvas.
Our Lawrence reckons he’s got the recipe to spoil Rozanski’s homecoming party. “I’m off to Poland to do a bit of redecorating,” he says, “starting with Rozanski’s record.” Lukasz, on the other hand, is all about keeping his belt and his buns in Rzeszow, promising a fight that’ll have fans spilling their pints in excitement.
This bash, cooked up by BOXXER and Knockout Promotions, promises all the drama of a British soap opera, with a touch more leather. As these two gents prepare to exchange pleasantries in the ring, one question remains: Who will be the last man smirking when the dust settles in Rzeszow?