Rozanski vs Okolie Predictions: New weight will suit ‘The Sauce’

Lawrence Okolie aims to become a two-weight world champion this Friday, May 24. ‘The Sauce’ takes on WBC bridgerweight champion Lukasz Rozanski at the Hala na Podpromiu Arena in ​​Rzeszow, Poland. The bout will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event.

Here are my Rozanski vs Okolie predictions ahead of this world title battle.

The bridgerweight division is in its infancy, having first crowned a world champion in 2021, when Oscar Rivas beat Ryan Rozicki for the inaugural WBC belt. Sitting between the 200-pound cruiserweight limit and 224 pounds, it was envisioned as a place for smaller heavyweights to compete as the average weight of heavyweight boxers has increased over the years.

The WBA are the only other organisation to currently recognise bridgerweight, with Evgeny Tischenko their first and current champion. The WBC’s own experiment has struggled for traction, it has to be said. Rivas would vacate their title, with Rozanski picking up the vacant strap with a win over the popular but workmanlike Alen Babic. That one-round TKO victory did little to convince anyone of the value of the title.

The conceit at the heart of the bridgerweight division has been proven as flawed recently, too. Oleksandr Usyk has just unified four titles to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis. His victory over Tyson Fury saw him scale 223 pounds, a pound within the bridgerweight limit. Can boxing’s newest division really be considered necessary if the reigning world champion at heavyweight is one of the fighters it was ostensibly created for?

But a title is a title and Okolie is officially bidding for his second in as many weight divisions. The Londoner lost his WBO cruiserweight strap last time out. ‘The Sauce’ dropped a majority decision to Chris Billam-Smith in an all-British world title clash. The closeness of the cards had led many to assume a rematch would be forthcoming. But Billam-Smith defends his title next month against Richard Riakporhe, while Okolie goes into uncharted territory.

Whatever you think of bridgerweight as a division, this fight is an intriguing one. Rozanski is unbeaten and he packs an awful lot of power. The Pole has stopped 14 of his 15 opponents, with no one making it as far as the fifth round with him. 

Okolie was once noted for his power, but he hasn’t scored a knockout since 2021. His last three fights have all gone the distance, perhaps indicative of the step-up in levels. Often, a fighter who was once a concussive puncher finds themselves having to go the long way round against world-ranked opponents.

Despite the belt he wears, it is hard to tell at this point if Rozanski is truly a world-level fighter. His biggest wins have come over Babic and Artur Szpilka, the latter of whom has been knocked out by Derek Chisora, Deontay Wilder and Adam Kownacki in the past. Other notable names on his record include Michael Sprott and former world title challenger Albert Sosnowski. Both of those men were firmly in the ranks of journeymen by the time Rozanski got to them.

What stands before Rozanski on Friday is something he has never seen before. A world-level fighter in their fistic prime. For Okolie, Rozanski is a dangerous but not-unprecedented proposition. He has dealt with bigger names and tougher men. I feel his experience at the top level will see him through here.

Rozanski can bang and Okolie will likely have to feel that power at some point. But I think he will get through the storm. Given the extra weight Okolie will be carrying, and his lack of recent stoppages, I think his boxing acumen will win the day. I’m going for an Okolie decision victory at 6/1. Britain is about to get its first bridgerweight world champion.

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