OKOLIE LANDS WORLD TITLE SHOT AGAINST GLOWACKI ON AJ UNDERCARD
Lawrence Okolie *will take on *Krzysztof Glowacki *for the vacant WBO
Cruiserweight World Title on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat
Pulev at The O2 in London on Saturday December 12, shown live on *DAZN* in
more than 200 countries and territories including Poland.
Okolie (14-0, 11 KOs) claimed the EBU European Cruiserweight Title with a
seventh-round stoppage of the previously unbeaten Yves Ngabu in October
last year, capping a successful 2019 which saw four knockouts in as many
fights for the Hackney man.
Glowacki (31-2, 19 KOs) knocked out Germany’s Marco Huck in eleven rounds
to win the WBO World Title in 2015 before widely outpointing Steve
Cunningham in his first defence. He suffered the first defeat of his career
against Ukrainian pound-for-pound star Oleksandr Usyk in his next fight.
The Polish southpaw earned the interim WBO Title by decisioning Maxim
Vlasov at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago in November 2018 but was stopped in
three rounds by Latvia’s Mairis Briedis last year in a challenge for the
full title.
“It has been a long and hard road to get here,” said *Okolie*. “I’m very
excited and blessed to have this opportunity; I’ll be grabbing it with both
hands. I will become Britain’s next World Champion on December 12.
“Glowacki is a great fighter and he is someone that I looked up to when I
first started boxing. I believe he won the World Title the same year I was
pushing to try and get on the Olympic team when I’d had 15 amateur fights.
“He’s a former two-time World Champion and has only lost twice to two elite
opponents. He’s going to be my biggest test on paper as a professional. He
is a consummate professional and will do everything in his power to win.
“I have to be on my A game, and I will be. I’m happy that throughout my
career I have faced the best opposition that I could have at every stage.
This is just another one of those.”
“I will retrieve my belt and I will bring it back to Poland,” said
*Glowacki*. “I will become WBO World Champion for the third time in my
career, there is no other option. I am prepared for a hard battle because
Lawrence Okolie is big, strong and awkward, but the belt is mine and I will
bring it back home.”
“In just 14 fights Lawrence Okolie has done it all and now it’s the moment
of truth,” said promoter *Eddie Hearn.* “Britain has the chance to crown
another World Champion but Lawrence has it all to do against a great
fighter and former World Champ in Krysztof Glowacki and someone who has
mixed consistently at the top level. This is going to be a huge night and a
huge moment for Lawrence – we can’t wait.”
“The time has come for Lawrence,” said 258 Athlete Advisor *Anthony
Joshua*. “This
is a huge opportunity, one I know he will rise to. He is about to fight at
the most elite level possible. He will prepare diligently and be ready.
“The whole team at 258 MGT are behind him. We are proud to have helped
guide him inside and out of the ring since his professional debut to his
first World Title opportunity in under 4 years.”
*Joshua* (23-1, 21 KOs) defends his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO World Titles
against Mandatory Challenger *Pulev* (28-1, 14 KOs) on a huge night of
action, with more fights to be announced soon.
