England-based heavyweight boxer, Lawrence Okolie has tagged his fight this Sunday at Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan area of Lagos Island as an invitation to other Nigerian-born fighters to follow suit.
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Sports247 reports that Okolie is set to tango Ghana’s Emmanuel Tetteh at The Waterfront, ahead of which the former cruiserweight world champion said he is enjoying his Nigerian heritage.
Okolie, who is also an British Olympian, was born in London to Nigerian parents, which he says makes him proud, then added that he believes the likes of Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois and Moses Itauma will follow his footsteps.
Okolie, who previously held the WBO cruiserweight world title from 2021 to 2023, has moved up to the heavyweight division, hoping to challenge the likes of Joshua, whose 2012 Olympic Games gold medal inspired him to get into boxing.
The 33-year-old pugilist pointed out that all three heavyweights and other boxers who have Nigerian heritage will want to fight in Lagos, once they see the reaction of fans in The Centre of Excellence.
He told BBC Sport Africa: “They’re going to see me headline the show over there and then they’re going to have the fear of missing out and come running over to do it as well.
Though he was born and grew up in Hackney, East London, Okolie has always talked with pride of his roots and thanked his parents for giving him the Nigerian blood, heritage and culture.
Okolie added: “Just instilling the culture and instilling the rights on their part, so for me I’ve always got that connection through my parents.
“I wouldn’t have been able to represent Britain in the Olympics or become a British champion without my parents coming over to England.”
