Lawrence Okolie believes his inability to recall sparring Hussein Muhamed is a reflection of the German not impressing him.

The former WBO cruiserweight champion on Saturday at Wembley Arena fights at heavyweight for the first time, seven months after – in the lightly regarded bridgerweight division – stopping Poland’s Lukasz Rozanski inside a round.

According to the 31-year-old Muhamed – whose only defeat in 19 professional contests came against Kazakhstan’s Zhan Kossobutskiy in 2022 – they sparred while in Anthony Joshua’s training camp ahead of Joshua’s fight with Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.

Okolie, also 31, regardless insists that he has no recollection of doing so, and was surprised to be told that that was what Muhammed had said. 

“I do not remember, and that’s not a good thing,” he told BoxingScene. “‘Cause I usually remember the people that I sparred, so he must not have been that good.

“Especially – I’d have been a cruiserweight at the time. I remember most of the heavyweights I’ve sparred, because there’s a danger factor; I’m slipping shots; how do I feel about how the spar went?

“I’d suggest [he didn’t make much of an impression on me]. [But] all that matters is the day – I’m going to go in there and try and get the KO. That’s what I’m going to do.”

Okolie relished his fight at bridgerweight, which followed his only defeat – by Chris Billam-Smith in 2023 – in his final contest at cruiserweight. 

From his earliest days as a professional he appeared on course to one day compete at heavyweight, but he revealed that he plans on remaining light, to prioritize his potential speed advantage, and also believes that his transition into a heavyweight has been made kinder by the fight with Rozanski in May.

“It was a good stop-off, definitely,” he said. “I’ve been able to eat more; do a little bit heavier weightlifting, and so forth, but we’re still finding the balance. For this fight I’d like 110kgs, so I need to lose a little bit of weight. Now I’ve seen him in person, he’s a big guy – I want to be explosive and sharp to get him out of there.

“Speed. It’s a mix, because I don’t want to be too light and get pushed around, so the 108 or 110 is a good region where I’ll be able to punch hard, but at the same time evade shots. A guy like this, who’s going to be coming in, trying to throw big shots – I need to earn his respect by hitting him clean and hard, and then go from there.

“It’s been the best. Not draining myself is super important. Being fit; being strong, being fast, and not being weight-drained, so I’m expecting the best of myself.

“Looking at pictures [of me at cruiserweight and bridgerweight]; how I felt; how I made the weight, were two completely different things. How I performed as well.

“It’s all about opportunity. If I’m good enough, I’m gonna win.

“The main aim is to box someone that’s in the top four or five of the WBC, and then, God willing I win that, go for a world-title shot.”