In more than 20 years, the British hope to become the first three-weight champion to feature heavyweight. The former sparring partner of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, has given up his world title belt and is now eligible to challenge the former champions.

The 31-year-old Lawrence Okolie took a risk by stepping up into the heavyweight class.

Two-weight champion Lawrence Okolie is eyeing a heavyweight title.

The British fighter has engaged in past bouts with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Still, he has experience sparring with some of the finest players in the category. When they were part of the Team GB setup, Okolie sparred for years with Olympic silver medallist and two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Prior to his debut matchup with Deontay Wilder in 2018, he also served as the Gypsy King’s sparring partner in the United States. He most recently faced off against Daniel Dubois, who had defeated Anthony Joshua last month and was victorious in his IBF heavyweight title defense.

However, Okolie, who is originally from East London’s Hackney, has made the decision that he wants a shot at the heavyweight belts. The Sauce won the WBO cruiserweight and WBC bridgerweight titles, making him a two-weight boxing champion already.

Although he was required to defend his bridgerweight title against Kevin Lerena, he has given it up in an attempt to win three weights. The decision to give up his world bridgerweight championship in order to pursue his dream of becoming heavyweight champion was officially verified by Lawrence Okolie, the bridgerweight champion, according to a statement released by the WBC.

“Consequently Interim champion Kevin Lerena is hereby confirmed as WBC world bridgerweight champion.”

Okolie said: “First I would like to state how proud and happy I was to compete for and win the WBC bridgerweight belt.

“After much consideration it is with a heavy heart that I have to unfortunately relinquish the WBC bridgerweight belt respectfully requesting to be rated in the top five in the heavyweight division.”

The Brit’s heavyweight debut is yet to be confirmed.

If he were to win a heavyweight belt he would be the first three-weight champion to include the heavyweight division since Roy Jones Jr – who held titles across four divisions – did so in 2003.

The legendary Bob Fitzsimmons was the first to complete the achievement with the heavyweight division in 1903 – with middleweight, heavyweight and light heavyweight all claimed.

On his chances Okolie previously said he would “fancy” a go at Usyk – who himself is a two-weight champion.

He told iFL TV: “I fancy that, I feel like everyone else has had their shot [at Usyk] and I want to go and test it.

“It might sound crazy to other people and I look at him and he is sensational and very talented, but I have attributes that he hasn’t had to box against for a long time including speed and stuff like that.”

Okolie has 20 wins on his record – 15 by KO – and one defeat to Chris Billam-Smith in May 2023 that saw him lose the WBO cruiserweight title.