One has even been compared to a prime Mike Tyson
LAWRENCE OKOLIE has sparred Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury &#8211; but two hitters stand out among the lot.
Former cruiserweight champion Okolie himself is one of the most feared punchers in the world with 15 knockouts in 20 wins.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/tyson-fury-poses-weighing-ahead-902328569.jpg" width="756" height="497" />
Tyson Fury before his May 2024 fight with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-anthony-joshua-poses-winning-885538724_e260f1.jpg" width="960" height="680" data-credit="Reuters" data-sizes="(max-width: 375px) 335px, (max-width: 520px) 480px, 620px" data-img="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-anthony-joshua-poses-winning-885538724_e260f1.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=960" />
Anthony Joshua poses after knocking out Francis NgannouCredit: Reuters
His long 6ft 5in frame and speed made the 2016 Olympian a sought-after sparring partner for the world&#8217;s top names.
Fury brought Okolie into his camp before fighting Deontay Wilder for the first time in 2018.
And AJ sparred with the WBC bridgerweight champ several times over the years.
Joshua now challenges for the IBF world title on September 21 against Daniel Dubois &#8211; with whom Okolie has also shared the ring.
And he named Dubois &#8211; along with 19-year-old sensation Moses Itauma &#8211; as the two hardest-hitters he has come across.
Okolie, 31, told BoxNation: “I think he’s probably one of the hardest punchers.
&#8220;Him and Moses Itauma are the two hardest punchers I’ve been in the ring with, whether that’s sparring or fights.”
Itauma is 9-0 with seven KOs and has been compared to a prime teenage Mike Tyson.
And Okolie tipped the youngster to go all the way in the sport.
He said: “He could be definitely. I feel like it depends on who at his age is coming up right now.
&#8220;He has a lot of s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 and speed and punching power so we’ll see.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Capture-20.png" width="740" height="878" data-credit="@lawrenceokolie" data-sizes="(max-width: 375px) 335px, (max-width: 520px) 480px, 620px" data-img="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Capture-20.png?strip=all&amp;w=740" />
Lawrence Okolie with Daniel DuboisCredit: @lawrenceokolie
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/moses-itauma-poses-photo-title-902629143_3afd3a.jpg" width="960" height="648" data-credit="Getty" data-sizes="(max-width: 375px) 335px, (max-width: 520px) 480px, 620px" data-img="https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/moses-itauma-poses-photo-title-902629143_3afd3a.jpg?strip=all&amp;w=960" />
British teenage sensation Moses ItaumaCredit: Getty
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I sparred Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury – but neither are hardest punchers I’ve faced