Lawrence Okolie had options after losing Chris Billam-Smith; The former WBO cruiserweight champion could move into the new WBC bridgerweight division and Okolie will be at the center of the fight there; WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman insists new weight class has 'many virtues' Lawrence Okolie is entering the new bridgerweight division to be hosted by the Boxing Council. The WBC created a weight class at 224 kilograms and believed it had "many virtues" yet no world title holder recognized it.
"Absolutely," WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Sky Sports. "That's one of the virtues [of the new division]. Just like Evander Holyfield, a cruiserweight then he grew into heavyweight, bridgerweight is another possibility for cruiserweights. To grow into bridger and eventually heavyweight." He argues that this new division can be a route towards an eventual title fight at heavyweight. "Absolutely, without having to give up, 50 pounds, 60 pounds [in an initial move to heavyweight]," Sulaiman said.
