Lawrence Okolie has signed rival Eddie Hearn after a serious falling out with the promoter

Lawrence Okolie signed with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions after his breakup Eddie Hearn and Matchroom at the end of 2022.

Okoli hit out at Hearn after parting ways with the promoter, calling the Matchroom boss “angry, embittered and jealous” before doing three bouts under Boxer and Ben Shalom.

And although Okolie said this year that he wants to restore good relations with Hearnformer light heavyweight and bridgeweight champion, signed to challenge Hearn’s opponent Warren.

31-year-old Okoli is aiming for a transition to heavyweight. The Brit previously held the WBO light heavyweight title losing it to Chris Billam-Smith in 2023and he won the WBC belt in Bridgerway in May before being released this month.

“There is only one place,” Okoli said in a press release on Friday (October 25). “If you’re a heavyweight in Britain or the world, it’s the Warrens. They have the best up-and-coming heavyweights, the best current heavyweights, and the best about to go.

“So this is the place for me. It has gone through different stages in my career and I needed to find a home that would serve this next period, until the end of my career – which is my heavyweight dream – to become a world champion in three weight classes.

“I have a natural weight because I was in the Great Britain team. It was hard for me to gain weight, but when you’re successful, you keep gaining weight. I even had to go down to become a bridgeweight, so I knew it was time to move up.”

Warren added: “Lawrence has all the qualities to make a big impact at heavyweight and he will enjoy being freed from the burden of cutting weight, allowing his natural talent and power to shine through.

“There are so many exciting fights and options for Lawrence, and I’m looking forward to seeing him get back to work.”

Warren, 72, promotes many top heavyweights, including Tyson Fury, IBF champion Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.

Queensberry also recently signed British heavyweight champion Fabio Wordley, who knocked out Fraser Clarke in a crushing manner in the first round this month