Lawrence Okolie Exposes Lukasz Rozanski and Phantom WBC Bridgerweight Division with First Round TKO on Sky Sports
By Robert Brizel Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Former WBO World Cruiserweight champion Lawrence ‘The Sauce’ Okolie, inactive for a year, tasted sweet sauce in his comeback in Rzeszow, Poland, on Friday, May 24, 2024. Okolie, 20-1 with 15 knockouts, Hackney, London, United Kingdom, decked Lukasz Rozanski three times in the first round, now 15-1 with 14 knockouts, Rzeszow, Poland, in his hometown, for a TKO at 2:55 of the first round in the televised Sky Sports main event, to win the still obscure World Boxing Council World Bridgerweight title in a laugher.
Okolie scored knockdowns with a counter right hand, a power right hand to the head, then teed off with Rozanski with power shots to the body followed by a vicious power uppercut to the right side of the head. Rozanski got up, but staggered backwards into the ropes, forcing referee Daniel Van De Wiele to stop the contest at 2:55 of the first round.
The second knockdown looked like it was caused by a rabbit punch to the back of the head. Rozanski indicated the illegal blow, however referee Daniel Van De Wiele called it a knockdown despite the claim. Rozanki now has the choice of defending his new WBC World Bridgerweight title against former World Cruiserweight champion Kevin Lerena, or taking a riskier fight at heavyweight against British contender Dillian Whyte.
Rzeszow Poland Undercard Results
Fiodr Czerkaszyn TKO 7 Jorge Cota, Super Middleweights (2:52)
Ihosvany Rafael Garcia KO 2 Lukasz Plawecki, Light Heavyweights (0:40)
Jan Czerklewicz Win 8 Paul Valenzuela Cuesta, Super Middleweights
Kamil Slendak TKO 2 Daniel Plonka, Cruiserweights (1:46)
Tobiasz Czarzeczny Win 4 Daniel Przewieźlik, Super Middleweights