Delicious Orie will take his place at the World Boxing Championships in Serbia alongside fighters from 105 countries. The GB super-heavyweight and Maverick Stars ambassador has been selected to take part in the tournament which starts in Belgrade on October 24.
DJ at South Wye ABC
It has been an eventful year for ‘DJ’ who travelled to Japan as chief sparring partner for eventual Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke. The Wolverhampton fighter - born in Moscow to a Russian mother and Nigerian father – now has the chance to impose himself on the world scene.
“Having Big Frazier there and learning from him has been very, very valuable for me,” DJ explained. “Not just the Olympics but competing for GB in Lithuania and just the training and the GB life I’ve been having for the past year and a half. It’s led nicely to the Worlds.
“Qualification is just on a selection basis. If the Heads [coaches] at GB think you can medal and you’re good enough, then they’ll enter you for it at that weight class. I’m glad I’ve been given the opportunity and grateful that the coaches know I’m ready for it. All I have to do now is go in there and do it! It’s that easy!
“The whole aim really is to get the experience and to raise my profile and let the other boxers and the world know that I’m here, I’m working hard, I’m going to be here for a good few years as an amateur until the Olympics. This is like a good first entrance into the real, proper international world stage.”
For the first time, tournament organisers AIBA are putting up significant prize money with gold medalists in each category receiving $100,000, silver medalists $50,000, and both bronze medalists awarded $25,000.
“It’s a good little bonus, extra incentive to get up in the morning and train!” DJ laughed.
Along with his busy GB commitments, DJ also finds time to support Maverick Stars initiatives at South Wye ABC in Hereford.
“I’ve been trying to go down there every week. When I’m done here in Sheffield, I drive down to Hereford to support the kids. I wouldn’t call myself a coach, but I go there to give advice about boxing, not just the technical side, but how to cope with pressure of competitions, the diet, how to train, stuff like that. The coaches say I’m a positive role model and that’s the aim, what I’m trying to achieve.”
