
Delicious Orie has opened up on his decision to cut his professional boxing career short, stating that he discovered 'zero fulfilment" anymore.
The Paris 2024 heavyweight turned pro shortly after his exit at the Olympic Games, signing with Queensberry Promotions on a multi-fight deal.
But after just a solitary win over Milos Veletic in April last year, the star stunned the sport by announcing his intention to retire from the ring.
Speaking on the choice, the star admits that he found little joy in the monetary aspects he expected to, and realised he needed to walk away.
"I fear that I would have ended up being a world champion but a very depressed, sad and miserable world champion," he told BBC Sport.
"I wanted to pull out before the boxing exposed me. I turned pro for the money. I need the mony, only to realise it gives you zero fulfilment.
"You feel nothing. There was no plan B [if I didn't win at the Olympics]. There was no other thing. It was tunnel vision to just win that medal.
"I gave everything to the sport, I missed everything. Knowing I could never achieve that when I didn't have my hand raised, that was very sobering.
"I wanted to pull out before the boxing exposed me. I thought money [would] make me happy. I genuinely thought money is the answer to my emptiness.
"I had to make a choice. I either stepped away when it was more or less too late [or not]. I would have been stupid to know that and still keep going for the money."
Sometimes, it just isn't for you. But in realising and then taking the steps to remove himself from the sport, Delicious Orie has made the smart call.
Plenty of fighters labour on long sense has left them, when he should be pivoting to a new aspect of their life, still keen to pursue those fading goals.
When Sunny Edwards called time on his career the other year, it caught plenty off-guard. Since then though, the star appears to have a new lease.
Orie appears to have found the same, transferring into a new career and a new life. His lack of regrets speaks to his maturity and clarity.
Hopefully, others will take heart from his decision and follow his lead in picking the path that suits them best over the coming months and years.
The WBO world heavyweight title is on the line for Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois on May 9, only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23), with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.


