In a sport where your name can mean intimidation or headline puns, Delicious Orie doesn’t disappoint. The heavyweight with a name as heavy as his punches has been heralded as 2023’s Best Amateur Boxer by none other than the Boxing Writers’ Club of Great Britain.
The big reveal happened at The Savoy Hotel in London, a venue almost as grand as the fighters it honors. John Conteh MBE, the former light-heavyweight world champ, passed the torch, or in this case, the award, to Orie, marking a moment where past and present boxing glory converged.
Why Orie, you ask? Delicious not only punched his ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics but also clinched gold at the European Games in Poland this past June. And if you think this achievement came out of nowhere, you’d be wrong. The 26-year-old pugilist, who didn’t even throw a punch until he was 17, snagged bronze at the European Championship in 2022 and topped it off with gold at the Commonwealth Games shortly after.
“It’s an absolute honor, honestly,” Orie couldn’t help but gush, his humility shining through. “Looking at the giants who’ve held this award, I can’t help but feel I’m on the right path.”
Delicious reflects on his whirlwind of a year, attributing his success to rigorous training camps across America and Kazakhstan, and a buffet of tournaments serving up a mix of fighting styles and opponents. “All this has shaped me, helping me clinch that sweet, sweet Olympic qualification,” he added with the confidence of a man who knows he’s going places.
He showered thanks on his GB Boxing coaches and staff, the unsung heroes in his thrilling ride. “The past year’s been surreal, but guess what? I’m just getting started. Bring on 2024!” Orie exclaimed, eyes twinkling with the kind of fire you expect from a champion-in-the-making.
Orie’s now part of an elite list, joining the ranks of Olympic gold medalists like James De Gale, Luke Campbell, Anthony Joshua, Nicola Adams, Galal Yafai, and Lauren Price, who’ve all previously nabbed the Boxing Writers’ Club’s accolade since its 2008 inception.