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WBC bridgerweight champion Lawrence Okolie has called out Oleksandr Usyk following his knockout win over Lukasz Rozanski.

The Brit picked up the green and gold strap on Friday in Poland with a first-round KO and has now eyed up a first defence against the Ukrainian slickster.

Usyk is a two-weight world champion having held world titles at heavyweight and cruiserweight
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Usyk is a two-weight world champion having held world titles at heavyweight and cruiserweightCredit: GETTY

If Usyk was to take up the challenge, then he could become a three-weight world champion.

Usyk recently became a two-time undisputed champion after outpointing heavyweight Tyson Fury - six years removed from his reign of supremacy at cruiserweight.

It is more than likely that Okolie will defend his bridgerweight crown against WBC interim champion Kevin Lerena in his next outing, but the 31-year-old is eyeing up bigger paydays.

"If Usyk decides he wants to be a three-weight world champion and I don't know how many belts there are at bridgerweight now, but there is an opportunity for that as well," Okolie told .

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"I fancy that, I feel like everyone else has had their shot [at Usyk] and I want to go and test it.

"It might sound crazy to other people and I look at him and he is sensational and very talented, but I have attributes that he hasn't had to box against for a long time including speed and stuff like that.

"I'd love that, if he wants a legacy fight, I'm two weight world champion now (previously WBO cruiserweight title holder), if he feels like becoming three-weight then let's do it."

Okolie also fancies a fight with former WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder.

Okolie dropped Rozanski three times during their title fight on Friday
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Okolie dropped Rozanski three times during their title fight on FridayCredit: Rex
He made light work of the Polish boxer to become the new WBC bridgerweight champion
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He made light work of the Polish boxer to become the new WBC bridgerweight championCredit: Rex

"When there is a belt on the line it is always better," he added when discussing a potential fight with the American.

"Obviously, he was WBC heavyweight champion, he will probably want to box for a WBC belt.

Ringside footage emerges of Lawrence Okolie brutally knocking out Lukasz Rozanski in the first round

"It's also all about the weight, someone like [Zhilei] Zhang is never going to make bridgerweight, but someone like Wilder weighs in at bridgerweight, same as Usyk."

And George Groves believes it might be a smart decision for Wilder.

"I think, now, this is his time to capitalise on being a world champion," he said.

"There are going to be a lot of heavyweights out there with big names, who are not huge, who are going to be thinking 'Am I ever going to win the heavyweight world championship in the near future?

"Maybe not, but I can be world champion if I take on Lawrence Okolie'.

"I think, maybe, Wilder is the sort of character who goes 'I'm such a big name, I'm a former heavyweight world champion, I can't see me just getting a shot at a heavyweight world title any time soon.

"'But why not become a two-weight world champion by fighting at bridgerweight?'"

Wilder and Usyk are unlikely to face Okolie anytime soon, if ever, as their next fights are already firmly set in stone.

Usyk is set to run it back with Fury after 'The Gypsy King' recently activated the two-way rematch clause in their contract.

It was initially thought that the second fight would take place in October, although Fury's US promoter Bob Arum recently informed talkSPORT that it is more likely to happen at the end of this year or early next year.

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Wilder, meanwhile, is set to return to action this weekend against Zhilei Zhang in the unprecedented Queensberry vs Matchroom 5vs5 tournament.

According to Saudi boxing chief, HE Turki Alalshikh, Wilder will then face fellow countryman Jared Anderson in August on the Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov undercard provided he 'looks good' against Zhang.

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