Delicious Orie exclusive: The ABBA-loving boxing star following in Anthony Joshua's footsteps
ABBA isn’t the typical choice of pre-fight music for a super heavyweight boxer, but then again, Delicious Orie is anything but ordinary.
Born in Moscow to a Russian mother, he moved to Britain aged seven where his Nigerian father had better work opportunities.
Orie only started boxing aged 18, but his natural size and ability meant that he quickly rose through the ranks. After winning the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 European super heavyweight title, the Wolverhampton-based fighter is now considered a medal favourite for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
But why does the 27-year-old opt for the upbeat disco tunes of four famous Swedes from the 70s?
“My music taste is different and the reason I love ABBA is because my dad is a big fan and he was always listening to them growing up,” Orie told Olympics.com with a smile.
“So as a child, I listened to it in the background in the car or in the house on the speaker and stuff. So when I listen to that music nowadays, it just reminds me of the hardship we had growing up at that moment. Then when I’m about to box, it's a reminder of why I'm doing it.
“That music is a little bit more sentimental than just, music that just gets you riled up and it gets me in the right frame of mind. My favourite song is, of course, Dancing Queen, because that's what my dad used to play the most!”
Delicious Orie (Blue) of England punches Leuila Mau'u of New Zealand during the men's Super Heavyweight Semi-Final at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
How Delicious Orie stays grounded
Outside the ring, Orie is equally unique.
He has a first-class degree in economics and aims to get his Masters once his boxing career is over. That means that while he is ruthless and aggressive with his boxing gloves on, he is also an articulate, humble and intelligent person to speak to.
Finding the balance between having supreme confidence while remaining grounded is something that all boxers have to find, especially when trying to win the mind games that are so prevalent in the sport.
As an Olympic medal favourite, it’s an area that meditation-fan Orie is conscious of and is doing everything he can to make sure that he does not fall into the trap of over-confidence.
*“*I'm actually on that journey now and I’m reading a few books just trying to educate myself and being a little bit more self-aware, I think self-awareness is key,” he continued.
“I feel like one thing I've got is self-reflection. Sometimes you react in a certain way through emotion and all this ego and things like that, so it's important to step back, to reflect on why you reacted this way, what could you have done better? And I think I always do that and as a result it’s allowed me to keep level headed.
“I also have very, very good friends and family very close to me who make sure to keep me grounded and stay true to myself.”
Pressure of expectation at Paris 2024
Great Britain is a boxing powerhouse at the Olympics, having landed 20 gold medals.
In addition, every super heavyweight that has represented Team GB at the Games has left with a medal.
It’s a tough legacy to live up to, but rather than be overawed by that statistic, Orie feels empowered by it.
“It gives me confidence to know that I'm training in one of the best places in the world, which can facilitate my dream and get me that medal,” he said smiling.
“I've always had the confidence in GB boxing because they've always delivered, even in my career, being European champion and Commonwealth Games champion, all things that prove to me that GB Boxing have confidence in me to go to the Olympics.
“I know that I'm more than capable of winning a medal for Great Britain. Don't get me wrong, there is a little bit of pressure, I’d be lying to say otherwise. But this is what this sport comes with and I want to embrace it all. It's all part of the journey.”
Delicious Orie: Following in Anthony Joshua's footsetps
One of those super heavyweights Orie is following in the footsteps of is Anthony Joshua.
In fact, it was the Londoner’s London 2012 Olympic victory that inspired Orie to try boxing, especially after he found out that Joshua had only started the sport aged 18.
Years later, Orie would find himself in dreamland as the Olympic champ's sparring partner - an experience he cherished. He took so many valuable lessons from.
“He’s just a great guy. He's got a lot of time for you, and gave me a lot of advice and tips on my career,” Orie said.
“It's somebody who I looked up to who really cared about my development as a boxer because he's been there. It gives me that motivation to get on that level and replicate his success.”
The links between the two don’t stop there, as Joshua’s former trainer Rob McCracken is now the GB Boxing Performance Director, and Orie’s main coach.
“Rob knows what to do to win gold at the Olympics and what I need to do in order to go all the way. He’s proved it time and time again with the previous super heavyweights. So I put all my trust in him because I know that I can replicate it if I just listen and go out there and perform.”
Winning gold would mean more to Orie than simply a tangible reward for his hard work.
As someone who knows what it is to suffer from a lack of opportunity, he wears the British flag with pride and wants to continue the nation’s rich legacy in boxing.
**“**I’m proud to have grown up in Great Britain since the age of seven, and being from here. To wear that flag on my chest when I'm boxing will mean so much to me. Honestly, I can’t put it in words,” he said.
“It's a way to say thank you to Great Britain for looking after me and giving me the opportunities. I had to work really hard for them but in some places in the world, no matter how hard you work for something, you just won't get it because of the lack of opportunity and facilities to get you there. But with Great Britain there is always an opportunity.
“One of the messages that I want to push out when I’m at the Olympic Games, especially to the younger generation of people that have grown up here, is that some people don't appreciate the luxury that they have. I was fortunate enough to see that because I lived somewhere else before. Even though I was seven, I was able to see that there is real opportunity here if you work hard.”
Orie’s message of gratitude is important. It’s the reason he listens to ABBA before his fights and stays laser-focussed on his goals.
It looks like Great Britain’s super heavyweight legacy is in very good hands.