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WBO cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie has joined forces with SugarHill Steward.
The Londoner announced the link-up on Instagram ahead of his scheduled clash with mandatory challenger David Light next month. The fight has a scheduled date of March 11.
The 30-year-old had been working with Shane McGuigan since May 2019 and the pair combined for a six-fight winning run which gleaned Okolie’s world title via a six-round knockout of Krzysztof Glowacki in March 2021.
But Okolie, 18-0 (14), has not boxed since outpointing Michal Cieslak a year ago this month and has spent time in Dubai and America.
He has also endured a public war of words with his former promoter Eddie Hearn but he has now confirmed a deal with Sky Sports and Boxxer. Hearn still believes Okolie owes one more fight to Matchroom, with the respective legal teams working out the details.
And now the unbeaten champion has a big change in the corner with Steward now confirmed as his new trainer.
Steward is well known to British fight fans as a result of his work with world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury as well as hot prospect Ben Whittaker.
The Kronk man becomes the fourth trainer of Okolie’s five-year, 18-fight professional career following his spells with Brian O’Shaughnessy, Barry Robinson and McGuigan.