Lawrence Okolie plotting move to emulate David Haye at heavyweight

Lawrence Okolie has declared the countdown is on until he moves up to heavyweight, and claims he can go up and down the divisions if he wants to.

The WBO world cruiserweight champion takes on Poland’s Michal Cieslak at the O2 in London on Sunday night as he kicks off a year in which he hopes to pick up the remaining belts at 200lb.

But IBF title holder Mairis Briedis and WBC king Ilunga Makabu have proved tough to track down and, for now, the Londoner continues to campaign at cruiser even if the long-term goal is clear.

Okolie wants to be a star in the blue-riband weight class and make his name, and secure his future, during the remainder of his time in the sport. But he reserves the right to move up and down.

‘Of course it is. For money but also for prestige,’ Okolie told Metro when asked whether the heavyweight division was his goal.

‘It’s the signature division and everyone loves a world heavyweight champion, it sounds good.

‘The timescale for me to move up is physical. When I can’t make the weight, I’ll be off. In this one, if the weight’s too hard, I’m off next fight. The one after that — gone.

‘I might have a little dance at heavyweight, I don’t need to put on too much weight.

‘I can test the water, put my belt on ice and try myself against these top-ten, top-15 heavyweights, see what they’re made of and what I’m made of and then come back down and defend the belt and unify.’

The 29-year-old has been thwarted in his attempts to get it on with Briedis or Makabu. However, he is not taking Cieslak, who has a 21 (15 KOs)-1-1 record, lightly this weekend, calling it ‘the most important fight of my life’.

‘If you ask me now [about fighting Briedis or Makabu], I would say it’s impossible but we’re optimistic for the