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Undefeated British boxer Lawrence Okolie spoke at length about the current Black Lives Matter movement.
British cruiserweight boxer Lawrence Okolie, who has held European and Commonwealth titles and has a record of 14-0, recently spoke to Sky Sports about the current Black Lives Matter movement that is sweeping the US, UK and many other places.
Okolie, who is 27 and was born in Hackney, London, said he feels a difference between what is happening now and all other anti-racist protests and movements he has lived through.
The current wave of mass protests was motivated by the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died after then-police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, knelt on the back of his neck for over eight minutes. Chauvin and four other officers were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department after video of Floyd’s death went viral. Chauvin has since been charged with manslaughter and second-degree murder.
The first of countless protests happened in the streets of Minneapolis. Since those demonstrations that city’s council have announced their intentions to defund and disband the city’s police force. Protests continue to take place across the US and beyond, invoking the name of George Floyd and other Black people who have been killed in recent months and years; including, but not limited to, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and Rayshard Brooks.
There have been over 100 protests in the UK. Many have taken place in Okolie’s hometown of London. At those protests there have been impassioned speeches from actor John Boyega and heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua.
“There seems to be a rise in consciousness,” said Okolie. “More people are aware of it. This has probably been the biggest civil rights movement since the ‘60s. There is a lot of pressure, and hopefully it can stay on, for more justice for black people all over the world.”
Okolie continued to say that he thought many people have become conditioned towards racism and that, prior to this moment, there was not enough of a spotlight shone on police violence against Black people and other issues of systemic racism. However, Okolie is confident that things are about to change.
“People aren’t going to stand for it, the way they have stood for it before,” he said. “Whether that be through protests or politically. That is positive to see. I want my kids to feel more comfortable than I felt. As long as we’re moving in the right direction, then I’m happy.”
When asked why this current climate feels different from any other time, Okolie said the fact “there are more eyes” on racist incidents has provided a spark that he feels could lead to actual change.
“I am filled with hope because people are wise to a lot of stuff.”
When it comes to what he’d like to see change in the UK—and beyond—Okolie called for the dismantling of ‘infrastructural racism’.
“I’d like to see more of the infrastructure being a lot less difficult for ethnic minorities. Socially and economically, whether it is intentional or unintentional, there is stuff to keep Black people down.
“Myself? I’m starting to do well at boxing. I came from having no money in the family. Now I have to repair past issues, such as helping my parents to buy their house. In a different set-up, your family has houses so you build yourself another house.
“I’d like to see less infrastructural racism. For example, jobs. Not being afraid to put your surname and wonder if you’re going to get the job. When you get stopped by a policeman, to not feel fear. I feel like the infrastructure in society is slightly racist and that is one of the most important things to tackle.”
Okolie won all four of his 2019 bouts by TKO. His most recent bout was a win over Yves Ngabu in October. That victory, at the O2 Arena in London, saw him clinch the European cruiserweight title. BoxRec currently ranks Okolie as the third best active cruiserweight in the world.