Lawrence Okolie would welcome a fight with Canelo Alvarez if the Mexican’s cruiserweight visit is extended beyond a potential showdown with Junior Makabu. Okolie, the WBO cruiserweight champion, seeks big fights after capturing world title honours with victory over Krzysztof Glowacki last year.
A unification fight with Mairis Briedis has previously been mentioned by Okolie and promoter Eddie Hearn, but an agreement for that clash is still some way off. Okolie isn't waiting around for Briedis, as he looks to make the second defence of his belt on Feb. 27 when he takes on Michał Cieślak. With Canelo considering a leap to cruiserweight following an admission at the WBC’s recent convention, Okolie would welcome the chance to face boxing’s pound-for-pound superstar in the future.
“If the opportunity is there, then it’s yes from me,” said Okolie when speaking exclusively to DAZN News on the possibility of taking on Canelo. “There’s plenty of talk of him stepping up to cruiserweight, but I’m a big cruiserweight, and I’m not sure I’m the type of fighter he had in mind when stepping up because of just how big I am.
“There’s smaller fighters than me at the weight, and it looks like that’s where he’s heading, but if the chance was there to fight him, then I’d take it. He’s one of the biggest names in the sport, and everyone is aware of who he is. It’s the type of fight that would raise my profile in a huge way, and I’d have plenty of advantages that I believe I can use.”