Lawrence Okolie Knocks Out Glowacki to Become WBO Cruiserweight World Champion

Plant-based boxer Lawrence Okolie is a world champion. The Londoner knocked out Poland's Krzysztof Glowacki in the sixth round at the SSE Arena, Wembley on Saturday, March 20 to win the vacant WBO cruiserweight title.

Okolie controlled the fight behind his jab before a huge right hand dropped the former champion, and referee Marcus McDonnell waved it off, reports Sky Sports. It was only his 16th professional fight, and he remains unbeaten. Glowacki, a former WBO champion himself, had only ever lost to Oleksandr Usyk and Mairis Briedis.

It's a huge step for the 28-year-old, who boxed for Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympics before turning professional. He called the night surreal, and he now follows Tony Bellew, David Haye and Johnny Nelson as a British world champion at cruiserweight.

Afterwards the new champion was still taking it in, telling Matchroom:

I don't think it has sunk in yet,

"I'm physically very strong and punch hard," he added. "Now and forever, I'll be a World Champion."

Okolie has followed a plant-based diet throughout his professional career, according to Vegan Easy, and has encouraged other athletes to try it. He has even tried to get Anthony Joshua to stop eating meat.

We covered Okolie when he won the British cruiserweight title at Wembley in 2018. He follows a long line of plant-powered fighters, from David Haye to Nate Diaz, who beat Conor McGregor.

A new world champion. Powered by plants.