After a sudden split from trainer, Shane McGuigan, Lawrence Okolie has now revealed that Tyson Fury was his inspiration for the move as he begins life under SugarHill Steward.
Okolie amassed a total of eight fights with McGuigan in his corner which saw him become both British champion and the WBO cruiserweight world champion.
However, the fighter now feels that is time for a change as he pursues the big names in the cruiserweight division, as well as a potential move up into the heavyweight scene.
In an interview with GiveMeSport.com, Okolie said that his decision to work under SugarHill Steward was influenced by the improvement that he has seen in Tyson Fury, who has now fought with the American in his corner on three occasions.
‘The Sauce’ claimed that the ‘Kronk’ style, which Steward also helped infuse into Adonis Stevenson and Andy Lee, was something that he wanted a piece of and feels that it will improve him as a fighter.
“Obviously I’ve watched Emanuel Steward, I’ve watched SugarHill and I’ve seen how they sort of work with tall, long fighters.
“I’ve seen it with Tyson Fury, Andy Lee and Adonis Stevenson, just to name a few. They find a way of making fighters just a little bit more clinical. So, I like that kind of energy that he brings to boxing.”
“Obviously I sparred Tyson Fury before the first Deontay Wilder fight, and I saw the transition that he made in number two and three and I said, you know, I’d like a bit of that.”
A recent altercation with fellow Brit, Richard Riakporhe, also suggests that the 30-year-old has unfinished business and potentially big events before he makes the jump to heavyweight.
