London’s Lawrence Okolie scored the sort of fast and devastating KO that will get followers and excited final evening in crushing Lukasz Rozanski to tear the WBC bridgerweight title. Now, “The Sauce” is taking a look at staying at bridgerweight in the meanwhile, with the final word objective being that of shifting as much as heavyweight to turn into a three-weight world champ (Okolie as we all know dominated as WBO cruiserweight champ earlier than being upset by Chris Billam-Smith final 12 months).
However who may Okolie battle at bridgerweight, the burden class nonetheless not blessed with too many massive names? George Groves, who labored the battle within the Sky Sports activities studio final evening, recommended Deontay Wilder as a attainable, shall we embrace, wildcard opponent for Okolie. Wilder as we all know faces Zhilei Zhang in June, and there may be discuss he could then battle Jared Anderson after that, this on the following massive Saudi card (however held in Los Angeles).
However Groves thinks there’s a probability Wilder, if he comes via in opposition to Zhang after which maybe Anderson, may go searching and see that with no speedy title probability at heavyweight obtainable to him, will maybe suppose to himself, why not go and attempt to turn into a two-weight world champion? Stranger issues have occurred, and for certain it will add a heck of rather a lot to the fledgling weight division if Wilder did battle at bridgerweight.
“I feel, perhaps, Wilder’s the kind of character, who goes, ‘I’m such a giant identify, I’m a former heavyweight world champion, I can’t see me getting a shot at a heavyweight title any time quickly; however why not turn into a two-weight world champion, and battle at bridgerweight?’” Groves mentioned.
Once more, it’s an attention-grabbing notion. Prior to now, Wilder mentioned a agency, thanks however no thanks when requested if he would take into account preventing at bridgerweight. However that was a while in the past, and Wilder has been via rather a lot since then. Wilder’s objective is to battle Tyson Fury a fourth time, and Wilder actually does imagine he can turn into a heavyweight champion once more. However as Groves identified, Wilder could not get a shot at a serious heavyweight title any time quickly, what with Fury and Oleksandr Usyk set for his or her rematch (Bob Arum says in November or December, not as quickly as October), and with Anthony Joshua probably in line to battle the Filip Hrgovic-Daniel Dubois winner for the vacant IBF belt in late summer time.
As he waits round for a shot at changing into a two-time heavyweight champ, why not a Wilder battle at bridgerweight? Wilder may identical to the concept of changing into a two-weight world champion. Possibly.
