By Admin 
Gaining from his experience of working as a sparring partner of two-time World heavyweight champion professional boxer Anthony Joshua, Englishman Isaac Okoh is keen to take the Olympic route to achieve his ambition of turning a successful pro.
Okoh, who won the 90kg title in the World Boxing Cup Finals here on Thursday, acknowledges that he became better after his training sessions with Joshua ahead of the Briton’s famous fight in Saudi Arabia three years ago.
“I really enjoyed sparring with Joshua in 2022 for the Oleksandr Usyk fight. It was a great learning experience for me, sparring with an ex-heavyweight champion in the world,” Okoh told The Hindu.
“Saudi Arabia was a great experience and helped me grow as a fighter and see the professional side of boxing. I learned a lot from that experience.
Okoh Isaac of England in action against Tokhirov Nusratbek of Uzbekistan in the World Boxing Cup Final at Greater Noida on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
“I believe over the past few years I’ve gained a lot of experience internationally, which is helping me towards the Olympic qualifiers. I’m going to go for that as that is my ultimate dream as an amateur boxer.
“Everything else I’ve done previous to the Olympic qualifiers is just experience and making me a better fighter for when the time comes to get ready for the qualifiers. I feel like I’ve had a successful year with my boxing, starting off with a gold and a silver medal in Brazil.”
Okoh is eyeing the World pro titles in the future. “Heavyweight amateur boxing is of a very high level at the moment and there are some very good fighters that await. No doubt a lot of them will be at the Olympic Games and will have the same ambitions as me of turning pro afterwards. We’re all capable of excelling as pros as well.
“I do wish to turn pro in the future, but first I want to get to the Olympics, which I think will stand me in good stead going into the pro ranks. My ambition as a pro is to win world titles and earn loads of money,” said Okoh.