Big things expected of big man Delicious

Delicious Orie pro journey begins on Saturday. Picture: Team GB

THE tidal wave of excitement is not on the scale of Anthony Joshua’s pro beginning, but, then, AJ was an Olympic gold medallist.

But the sea of expectation is certainly churning wildly as Wolverhampton’s Delicious Orie – a colossus of Russian and Nigerian parentage – prepares for his debut on Saturday.

The 27-year-old – among a stream of talented big men signed by Frank Warren’s major Queensberry promotional outfit – takes his bow on the major Co-op Live Arena show in Manchester, topped by fellow heavyweight Joe Joyce.

In the opposite corner will be Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Milos Veletic, loser of seven of 10 pro contests.

Delicious will win – defeat is unthinkable. But when you enter the paid ranks with the amateur honours bestowed on 6ft 6ins Orie, the nature of that victory is all important. You are expected to make a statement.

And perhaps Orie could’ve struck Olympic gold as AJ did. The split decision given to opponent Armenian Davit Chaloyan in the opening round of last year’s Paris Olympic was debatable, even harsh. He – and many others – dubbed the result a robbery.

It was a devastating blow for one of our biggest medal hopes. Delicious, who moved here from Moscow, won the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, was bronze medallist at the European Championships and took top spot at the European Games two years ago.

A product of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter boxing club, there was an understandable clamour to get Orie’s signature on pro forms. Frank Warren won the day.

When he signed for Queensberry, Orie said: “I can’t wait to get this next chapter underway.

“I’ve put the heartbreak of Paris behind me and look back on my amateur career with pride. A home Commonwealth Games where I won my first major gold and closing the European Championship as Team GB’s flag bearer with a gold medal round my neck were definitely the highlights. I’d like to thank GB Boxing and Team GB for all their support over the past few years. 

“I’ve teamed up with Steel City gym, STN Sports and Queensberry Promotions, who together I feel are the team that will take me to the top of the heavyweight division.

“Queensberry is the home of heavyweight boxing and have a long tradition of developing boxers the right way and building superstars. I can’t wait to get going!”

Warren said: “Delicious has got everything stacked in his favour to make himself a major success as a professional heavyweight. He is skilful, powerful, popular and charismatic and I am certain the British public will get behind him in a big way as he makes his way in the sport.

“We have got incredible depth in the heavyweight division here at Queensberry but, as always, we develop each fighter as an individual and Delicious will be given the right fights at the right time to progress him towards major title contention.

“I am very much looking forward to getting him started and cannot wait to see Delicious in action.”

Neither can the fight public. There’s been plenty of hype in the build-up, now it’s time to discover if we have a new heavyweight hope.

*The show will be streamed live by DAZN.