Lawrence Okolie focusing on Mairis Briedis after Derek Chisora’s warning about jumping to heavyweight

LAWRENCE OKOLIE will focus on becoming king of the cruiserweights after a heavyweight warning. The Hackney ace, 28, claimed the WBO title at Wembley Arena on Saturday by jabbing the head off Krzysztof Glowacki and bludgeoning him in the sixth round. Okolie, who is managed by Anthony Joshua, is well aware of the riches that […]

LAWRENCE OKOLIE will focus on becoming king of the cruiserweights after a heavyweight warning.

The Hackney ace, 28, claimed the WBO title at Wembley Arena on Saturday by jabbing the head off Krzysztof Glowacki and bludgeoning him in the sixth round.

EPA

Okolie has set his sights on facing Mairis Briedis (left)[/caption]

Okolie, who is managed by Anthony Joshua, is well aware of the riches that await in boxing’s glamour division.

But after getting some advice off British heavyweight pal Derek Chisora, the 2016 Olympian revealed his next target is Latvia’s IBF cruiserweight king Mairis Briedis.

The new world champion said: “I want to unify now. I saw Derek at ringside and he made me realise those guys are really big, so I need to focus on tactics a lot more.

“A lot of the things I have used in this division, like my size and strength, will not work for me at heavyweight.

“There is a lot more learning to do and still some big fights at cruiserweight because I want to unify.

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“Briedis is my next target because I believe he is the best in the division and I want another step up.”

Late starter and former McDonald’s burger flipper Okolie has had just 42 senior bouts as an amateur and professional, but has now wrapped up an Olympic appearance and a world title.

He added: “It’s there forever now. I will always be a world champion, no matter what happens in my life.”