SECONDSOUT Osueke is eager to make his mark after long wait
GEORDIE LAWRENCE PREPARES TO FIGHT ON SKY ARENA BILL
GEORDIE Lawrence Osueke is bursting to make up for lost time and blast his way into Britain’s light heavyweight division.
Having been frustrated during a lengthy wait of almost three years for his pro licence, Osueke has rattled up two points victories in just a month and is ready to go for a third time on Eddie Hearn’s big bill at the Newcastle Arena next month.
Osueke, for four and a half years a full-time amateur on the GB Podium squad, admits he is playing catch-up at 30 years of age but believes his long enforced lay-off has in some ways worked for him.
“I am not a bashed-up fighter who has been in a lot of wars,” Osueke told me. “I am fresh, enthusiastic, and with a huge appetite to push on.
“My style has always been more classical than confrontational. I have never been a hit-me-and-I’llhit-you boxer. I have tried to showcase all the skills.”
Osueke, from Cullercoats, is trained by Oliver Harrison in Manchester but comes home every weekend.
Having won on his debut in Preston and again on the Temple Park show, he is now due to perform on the Lewis Ritson-Josh Kelly undercard come June 16.
He added: “I have been happy to gain experience and build up my record on quiet shows so to be suddenly appearing on an Eddie Hearn Sky bill in Newcastle is wonderful. “I am really looking forward to it. “I want to fight as often as possible because I havebeen so frustrated. “Originally after deciding to go pro I had a minor shoulder operation that kept me out but it then took more than two years to get my licence because of technicalities. “It got to the stage I thought it would never happen but I kept training Lawrence Osueke every day and kept my hunger. Now I can release it all.
“At first I had a contract with Frank Warren but he has moved on after getting BT show exposure and with my inactivity I have had to rethink my plans. However, I am happy with the route I am now going down.”
Osueke was a quality amateur who fought in the European Championships and travelled the world with GB.
He said: “I know both Josh Kelly and Lewis Ritson from my amateur days.
“I met Josh when we were both away with GB and we became good friends and I remember handing out trophies at Forest Hall ABC which is Lewis’s club, of course.
“They have done brilliantly. North East boxing both at amateur and pro level is at a great place right now.”
Osueke is from a boxing background, of course.
Former pro Manny Burgo is his uncle and remains a major influence on his career.
I have watched Osueke many times down the years and always felt he performed with grace and poise.
It would be nice to see him reap some rewards after his long wait to break on to the pro scene.