Meet Delicious Orie - The British heavyweight who almost chose WWE over boxing

There is a new British heavyweight preparing to make waves in the professional ranks, Delicious Orie. 

It was announced on Tuesday that the 27-year-old had signed a promotional deal with Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions, and it's a partnership which he believes will take him to the top of the heavyweight division. 

While Orie was a latecomer to boxing, starting at the age of 18, Orie's inspiration in life comes from his parents. 

Born in Moscow to a Russian mother and Nigerian father, Orie arrived in the UK at the age of seven with his parents looking to protect him from racial prejudice in the country.

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This life changing decision triggered a change in Orie's mindset, and speaking exclusively to DAZN News, his main goal in life is now to now ensure that his parents are okay. 

"If it wasn't for them, I don't think I would have the mindset I have," Orie said. 

"I remember being seven years old and thinking to myself when my mum and dad moved to the UK thinking, right this is on me now. This is my responsibility to make sure that they're ok, but I'm ok and my family are alright. 

"Your life is basically shaped from around zero to seven, eight years old, and I believe I'm still that same seven year old kid. That kid who just wants to make sure their parents feel ok after the things that they've been through."

However, things could have been very different from Orie. 

Following the aftermath of a shock Last 16 exit at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, an unexpected offer presented itself from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). 

"It was a big curveball actually," Orie continued when discussing the offer. "When they first got in contact with me, I did not expect it whatsoever."

Orie then travelled to Florida to witness how wrestlers become global entertainment stars, and the Team GB boxer was very impressed. 

He then revealed to DAZN News that he was then offered a contract to join the sports entertainment giant which left him pondering whether it would be boxing or professional wrestling which would make a bigger impact. 

"I absolutely loved it. I loved the show business, the whole package that they were delivering to me and they offered me a contract contract, but it took some time to really think about it and really think about what I want to do."

In the end, it was boxing which Orie believed would allow him to make a bigger impact, however, he did not rule out any surprise appearances in the future with WWE. 

"I think boxing is the one that will make more of an impact. But wrestling is always there. The door is always open. So you never know.

"Maybe in the next few years I will make one or two random appearances like uppercutting some random person in the wrestling ring. We'll see."

The heavyweight division is certainly not short of characters, especially in Britain despite the careers of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury coming to a close, and it feels like just from speaking to Orie that he will have a personality which fight fans can instantly connect with. 

Now the wait begins for the professional debut of Delicious and the continuation of a journey which has already seen him conquer major obstacles which only boxing can help overcome. 

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