Okolie’s Injury Forces Withdrawal, Riakporhe Seeks Replacement

Lawrence Okolie has pulled out of his heavyweight struggle in opposition to Richard Riakporhe with an harm for the April fifth card on DAZN on the Co-op Stay Area in Manchester, England. The promoters for the cruiserweight Riakporhe (17-1, 13 KOs) are actually left scrambling to struggle a substitute on lower than a month’s discover.

Alternative Hunt

The Ring reviews that the 32-year-old Okole was injured coaching for the bout with Riakporhe. There are clearly lots of heavyweights that may step in to fill the spot, however a lot of them would beat Riakporhe, which isn’t very best for his promoters.

If it’s not too late, the promoters for the occasion ought to use Riakporhe because the opponent for Joe Joyce in the principle occasion. They’ve already acquired Filip Hrgovic because the opponent for Joyce, however that’s a horrible match-up for ‘The Juggernaut.’ Hrgovic has an excessive amount of expertise.

Riakporhe is extra up Joyce’s ally, and would give him a greater likelihood of profitable. If the thought is to rebuild Joyce, utilizing Hrgovic is the mistaken path. I wouldn’t do it if I had been his promoter.

Okolie’s Limits

Okolie’s profession appears prefer it’s going nowhere. He’s not reduce out for the heavyweight division. When he was melting right down to cruiserweight to struggle a lot smaller guys, he was within the very best scenario to succeed due to his measurement benefit in a traditionally weak division. However now that Okolie is a heavyweight, his profession scenario appears past bleak.

Even with cautious matchmaking being completed for him by his promoter, he’s not beating anybody good, and he’ll probably disintegrate if he’s put in with a good heavyweight. 32 isn’t outdated, however Okolie doesn’t have sufficient time to develop right into a fighter able to competing with the lions within the division. His beating at cruiserweight by Chris Billiam-Smith in 2023 confirmed his limitations as a fighter.

Okolie ought to neglect about preventing at heavyweight and return to cruiserweight. You’ll be able to’t plug Okolie in with anybody price their salt at heavyweight and anticipate him to emerge victorious. He’s too clumsy and uncoordinated.