Since Anthony Joshua’s emergence after winning gold at the 2012 Olympic Games, many youngsters have been inspired by the Watford-born heavyweight’s career, with several compared to the two-time world heavyweight champion — and Delicious Orie was no different.
Joshua’s career has, in many ways, provided a blueprint for amateur boxers turning professional after the Olympic Games. AJ spoke to a number of promoters after his London 2012 triumph before choosing to work with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
After making his debut against Emanuele Leo at The O2 in October 2013, the Brit effectively toured the nation, fighting in London, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle in his first 11 bouts in the paid ranks. As his fanbase grew exponentially, so did his bank balance and number of opportunities.
By April 2016, Joshua was IBF heavyweight champion after defeating America’s Charles Martin by seventh-round knockout. Blockbuster stadium shows followed against Wladimir Klitschko, Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin before he ran into Andy Ruiz Jr., losing at Madison Square Garden in June 2019.
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And despite losing twice to Oleksandr Usyk and once to fellow Brit Daniel Dubois since, Joshua’s legacy is assured.
However, not everyone’s career runs so smoothly, and this was the case for Orie. Ahead of the Paris Olympic Games, Orie was tipped to win gold but ended up without a medal when he lost to Davit Chaloyan in the first round by split decision in the super-heavyweight division.
Despite the disappointing setback, Britain’s main promoters, Hearn and Frank Warren, were keen to sign the Moscow-born Brit, with the latter eventually winning the battle for the fighter’s signature.
Due to his amateur pedigree, many dubbed Orie the next Joshua due to his size and stature.
The 28-year-old made his professional debut in Manchester, recording a points victory over Milos Veletic, but little did fans know that this would be his first and final fight as a professional. Just one month later, Orie announced his retirement from professional boxing.
At the time, he wrote on social media: “After much reflection, I have decided to hang up my gloves and retire from boxing to follow up on my degree and enter the corporate world.
“This sport has given me so much — incredible memories, unforgettable experiences travelling the world and many opportunities to represent my countries on the biggest stages in the world. Forever grateful for the journey.
“Over time, I’ve come to recognise that the same fire and love I once had for boxing has gradually faded. As I’ve grown, I’ve come to value clarity and honesty with myself above all.”
Now, almost a year on from his shock decision, he has spoken out in an interview with BBC Sport, going into depth about the reasons behind his call.
Orie, who now works as a financial adviser, explained how he “thought money” would make him “happy”, only to find it was not the answer to his “emptiness”.
He said: “I turned pro for the money, I needed the money, only to realise that money gives you a little bit of happiness — it really does — but it gives you zero fulfilment. Nothing. You feel nothing.”
Admitting that he had dreamed of becoming a millionaire as a teenager, he added: “I thought money would make me happy. I genuinely thought money was the answer to my emptiness. “I worked eight years to get that money, and I got that money. I got a lot of it, and I was predicted to earn a lot more of it in the future, only to realise that I felt emptier.”
The decorated amateur said that he feared being “exposed” by up-and-coming fighters who wanted it more than him, which played into his decision to prematurely hang up his gloves.
“I had to make a choice,” he added. “I either stepped away when it was more or less too late — when, in my third or fourth year, I got knocked out by some up-and-coming guy who purely just wants it more than me — or I have the power in my hands to step away…”
Topics: Anthony Joshua, Boxing, Olympics
Luke Davies