Lawrence Okolie will have to prepare for the “worst-case scenario” when he takes on Lukasz Rozanski for the WBC bridgerweight title in Poland, says Alen Babic.
Okolie invited “The Savage” Babic to a sparring session Friday night in Rzeszów, preparing for Rozanki's intense fighting style and hostile atmosphere. sky sports.
Babic is well aware of the threat Rozanski poses, having lost in the first round to the Polish national team last April, and after ending Rozanski's reign with a points loss to Chris Billum-Smith He has some advice for Okolie as he aims to win a world title. WBO cruiserweight champion.
“It's a terrible situation,” Babic said. sky sports. “Rozanski certainly comes up a storm, he knows he can’t outbox me, he certainly can’t outbox Lawrence Okolie, he’s a bit older and he’s getting towards the end of his career so he knows it all.
“That's why I told Lawrence not to take any of his fights. He'll run at you. He'll literally run across the ring for Okolie. Boxers, we're not used to that. I've won 11 fights at the same time. I've been knocked out in the first round about five times.”
“I can churn that up too. That's why Okolie called me. I told him that. Lawrence can't do that because he gets a little bit lazy in sparring and in fights. He can't afford that. It's over in a flash.”
“I always call it the worst case scenario because that's exactly what happened for me. It was the worst case scenario for me.”
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Alen Babic was stunned by Lukasz Rozanski's early onslaught in Poland.
Rozanski has shown ruthless instincts with 14 stoppages in 15 fights, but Babic insists Okolie will be able to last until the end if he replicates the explosive skills he showed in sparring.
“Okolie's right hand could be the deciding factor in this fight,” Babich said. “His right hand is deadly. Very deadly. And the uppercut. He has everything Rozanski needs, that's what I'll say.
“He's bigger than me. He's twice the size of Rozanski. He's big. He's strong. He can take punches, he can throw punches. But he gets distracted sometimes.”
“He's had some moments in his career like when I was up against Rozanski. It's the same without Okolie. I know him when he's in there. I know him when he's at his worst sparring. So it's up to Rozanski. It depends on which Okolie shows up.”
Babic admitted that he fell victim to an atmosphere that “sucked the energy” out of him in the opening minutes of his loss to Rozanski, and offered some words of warning.
“I told him, if you go into this fight prepared for this sparring, you’ll do well,” Babic continued. “But the only concern for me is that Lawrence Okolie is not ready because he has had some good sparring and some bad sparring.
“So he needs to make sure he goes into the game at his best performance, or at least at his highest level. But if he comes in as a bad Okolie, he could be in trouble. He could have a lot of problems.
“I think it's a mental issue. Rozanski has fought all his fights in the same venue, in the same city.
“I wasn't myself there. I don't blame anyone, but they create a perfect storm that just sucks the energy out of you.”
Babich made his comeback with a hard-fought six-round victory over Steve Robinson and is scheduled to face British heavyweight boxer Jonny Fisher on July 6.
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Alen Babich suffered a painful stoppage loss to Steve Robinson
“This is a very wrong fight for them. A very wrong fight,” Babic said.
“Fischer is a very good friend of mine. I see him as a friend. We'll put the friendship on hold until after the game.”
“Maybe someone thought I was done. I'm 33 years old. I'm just getting started. 'The Savage' is just beginning his quest.
“This is a great opportunity. We have seven full weeks of camp. [I’ve been] Sparring with former world champion, possibly new world champion, Okolie. I think somebody made a mistake. I think somebody made a very big mistake.
“I'm going to make them pay. I think it was a serious mistake.”
Lawrence Okolie challenges Lukasz Rozanski for the WBC bridgerweight title on Friday. It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from 10pm.
