Is it okay to work so hard to climb the mountain, only to start trekking down seconds after you’ve reached the summit? Well, sometimes that is what feels like the right thing to do. That is why Delicious Orie, a twenty-seven-year-old boxer, has decided to leave the sport thirty-eight amateur fights later, post a seven-year-long journey of lacing his gloves. Surprisingly, he had just started making waves in the heavyweight division with a professional debut. Some compared him to the heavyweight, Anthony Joshua.
In April, the Russia-born and UK-raised fighter fought Milos Veletic, the 3-9 Bosnian boxer, in a four-round heavyweight bout. As a part of the Joe Joyce vs. Filip Hrgovic undercard, Orie gave a promising start transitioning within the sport, earning a PTS victory. After attracting several British promotions, the 1-0 boxer has recently signed with Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions.
Now, just yesterday, the young fighter took to his Instagram to break the news of his farewell. “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,” he wrote in the caption. “This sport has given me so much — incredible memories, unforgettable experiences travelling the world and many opportunities to represent my country at the biggest stages in the world. Forever grateful for the journey.”
While being grateful for every experience and teaching boxing has brought him, Delicious Orie also acknowledged the fact that he would be doing injustice to it by staying even when his heart is no-more with it. “Over time, I’ve come to recognise that the same fire and love I once had for boxing has gradually faded.” the British boxer continued to write. “As I’ve grown, I’ve come to value clarity and honesty with myself above all. I hoped that turning professional would reignite the passion, but the truth has become clear: it hasn’t. Every fighter knows you need a deep love for the craft to reach the top — and without it, there’s no path forward.”
Lastly, thanking everyone who has supported him on this beautiful journey, the boxer bid his final goodbye before he moves onto the quest of building himself in the corporate landscape. “Out of respect for the sport and for myself, it’s time to step away with honesty,” the caption read. Now, as Orie continues his further education, picking up where he left his academics off when he graduated with a degree in Economics and Management from Aston University in 2020, let’s take a look back at his career.
Delicious Orie: A decorated amateur career to be remembered
The reason why his fans would be sad about the leaving is because of such a huge amateur climb. Fighting in the super-heavyweight division there, Orie cemented his name among boxers by winning a bronze medal at the European Championships in 2022. Then, winning gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in England three years ago, he became an unignorable name in the sport.
Two years ago, he again grabbed a gold medal at the European Games in Poland. With that, he was eligible to fight in the super-heavyweight category for the Paris Olympics that happened last year. Representing the Great Britain squad is what he feels the most thankful about.
And with that, Delicious Orie has cemented his name in the sport in some or the other way, always to be remembered by his friends and colleagues as the “guy who is an Olympic boxer” wherever he chooses to go next. And that is no small feat, is it?
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