Boxer Lawrence Okolie Becomes First Vegan Cruiserweight World Champion
Published 23 March 2021
'He's conquered belittling, bullying, breaking through from the golden arches of McDonald's... he's a story of believing that anything is possible'
London boxer Lawrence Okolie has become the first vegan to win the World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight world title.
In his 16th professional fight, Okolie remains unbeaten. The 28-year-old scooped the win against Krzysztof Glowacki in a six-round knockout.
An inspiration
The athlete, who follows a plant-based diet, hopes he can be an inspiration to people. When he beat Isaac Chamberlain in a major victory in 2018, he revealed he hadn’t eaten meat in a year.
‘He’s conquered belittling, bullying, breaking through from the golden arches of McDonald’s… he’s a story of believing that anything is possible’, a SkySports commentator exclaimed as Okolie won the fight.
Watch the winning moment
View this post on Instagram
Vegan boxer
Lawrence Okolie isn’t the first vegan boxer to win a belt, as it is middleweight Keith Holmes who holds this title, according to World Boxing News. However, he is the first in the cruiserweight division – and the only current champion.
He told the outlet he had never eaten meat since becoming a professional outlet, and recommended the vegan lifestyle to fellow athletes.
This is because it leads to increased energy levels and helps maintain weight, he added.
More successful athletes are stepping forward to ‘smash’ the stereotypes associated with a vegan diet, including the heavyweight powerlifter Noah Hannibal.
Lawrence Okolie’s story
Upon becoming world champion, Okolie told the BBC: “Doing all these interviews, realizing how much this means – not just to me but to so many people that I can inspire – it feels amazing to go in and actually get it done.
“I’m coming into my own, starting to believe in boxing. I used to just believe in my physical strength, the fact I can hit someone hard and stop them.
“Now we’re getting into boxing. Keeping it long, moving it fast… I’m just happy that there’s progress.”
Original Article > by Emily Baker, Plant Based News
Recent News
-
Exclusive interview with Chef Jimmy of VegMeUp
Professional chef, Jimmy van der Linden, originally from the Netherlands, reignited his love for creating delicious food for others while starting up his own plant-based meal kit service in Melbourne, Australia.
-
Vegan fashion week celebrates cruelty-free innovation
At the 5th annual Vegan Fashion Week, the celebration of ethically sourced, cruelty-free, and sustainable fashion reached new heights.
-
Menopause and Muscle: Staying Fit and Healthy with a Plant-Based Diet
As women enter the perimenopausal and menopausal stages of their life, our bodies undergo significant hormonal changes, along with age related changes, that can impact muscle mass, bone density, and fat distribution. A plant-based diet can provide benefits to women as they navigate these physical and hormonal changes.
-
The Elite Athletes Powered Entirely by Plants
For some athletes competing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, a plant-based diet makes them feel fitter, faster, and stronger.
-
First Guinness World Record attempt to serve vegan meals to underserved communities in LA
In a groundbreaking effort to combat food injustice and celebrate Juneteenth, Chef Supreme Divine and The Harvest Academy, along with key sponsors Beyond Meat, Gen V, and Vegans of LA, will set a Guinness World Record by delivering 1,000 vegan meals in one hour at Estrada Courts. This event not only aims to break records but also address the food disparities faced by underserved communities in LA and across the nation.
-
Why Isn’t Processed Meat Scrutinized Like Plant-Based Meat?
Processed plant-based meat has a terrible reputation - but does it deserve it?
Leave a Comment