Two-weight world champion Lawrence Okolie has vacated his WBC bridgerweight belt to move up to heavyweight.
The 31-year-old won his second green and gold belt in his last fight in May, defeating the champion Lukasz Rozanski in just one round in Poland.
Now the former Olympian aims to win more gold up at heavyweight to fulfill his dream of becoming a three-weight world champion.
The World Boxing Council provided an update on their bridgerwieght status:
“The WBC has received official confirmation from bridgerwieght champion Lawrence Okolie that he has decided to relinquish his world bridgerwieght championship in order to pursue his dream of becoming heavyweight champion.
“Consequently Interim champion Kevin Lerena is hereby confirmed as WBC World bridgerwieght champion.”
Trained by Joe Gallagher, Londoner Lawrence stated, “First, I would like to state how proud and happy I was to compete for and win the WBC bridgerweight belt.
“After much consideration, it is with a heavy heart that I have to unfortunately relinquish the WBC bridgerweight belt respectfully requesting to be rated in the top 5 in the heavyweight division.”
Hackney’s Okolie won British, Commonwealth and European cruiserweight titles before claiming the WBO World title against Krzysztof Glowacki in 2021. He defended it three times before losing it to his friend and former teammate Chris Billam-Smith in May 2023.
Okolie’s reign at cruiserweight lasted 26 months, then he claimed his second divisional world title a year later in May 2024.
Will Lawrence Okolie shine in the new weight class?