Delicious Orie on weight training to Spongebob Squarepants

Born in Moscow to a Nigerian father and Russian mother, Delicious Orie’s family moved to the UK to escape racism and seek a better life when he was seven. Here Leisure Kicks catches up with him…

EARLY YEARS

How did you get involved in your sport?
When I was around 17/18, I saw Anthony Joshua on tv winning his first world title and when I saw his arms being raised with the belt it instantly inspired me. So, I did some research and saw he was a late starter when it came to starting boxing and I thought if he can do that, why can’t I? So, I gave it a go and I’ve not looked back since.

What made you choose this sport over others?
I used to play basketball until I was 18 and I loved it, and still do! It’s weird coming from a team sport into one where you compete on your own, but I really like that. Essentially, my destiny is in my own hands. With boxing, you get out what you put in but with a team sport you can have your fortunes decided by other people. I think with boxing also, because of my experience in basketball I was more athletic than your usual super-heavyweight so I thought I could use that to my advantage

Tell us about your first success in your sport?
Honestly, winning my first fight. It didn’t last very long; it was about 45 seconds into the first round. It was in that moment I realised it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

HEROES

Who were your sporting heroes growing up?
As I was into my basketball, one of my heroes was an NBA from England but originally from Sudan called Luol Deng and he inspired me to dream big. He was a guy who emigrated to England, learning his craft before moving to America and joining the NBA. 

Who in your sport now do you most admire and why?
Anthony Joshua. You might have guessed! He was the one who initially started the spark within me to push to try and achieve what he has. On top of that, he’s very humble. He’s got plenty of time for others. It’s not just how he is in the ring that I admire it’s also how he behaves out of it.

TRAINING

How often do you train?
I’ve been part of GB Boxing for two years now and we train at the English Institute of Sport. I’m there throughout the week, usually Monday-Thursday but sometimes I stay longer but in that time I’ll do around 16 sessions a week. 

Describe a typical training session
Our weekly training plan is put together by our strength and conditioning coaches as well as our boxing coaches. Most mornings consist of some running on the track or the road at different intensities and lengths depending on how far away from competition we are. It’s similar with strength and conditioning. That will either be some drills with weights or explosive movement. Then we have the actual boxing sessions, and they vary. Some days it will be bags or pad work others it will be technical or open sparring. The closer I am to a tournament the training will become more intense.

What is your favourite training session/exercise/drill?
I do love running. Which is a little unusual as not all boxers enjoy it. My favourite would be a 1km run which is short, sharp, and fast. I also really enjoy open sparring with a plan geared towards what I’m working on.

Best piece of advice from your coach?
“Go out there and enjoy it.” It brings home to me why I’m doing all this. Because I enjoy the sport. Sometimes before a bout you can get nervous or overthink but when you hear that you remember why exactly I’m doing it. We work hard all week for months and now it’s time to reap the rewards and enjoy it.

Which part of your body suffers the most in your sport?
I’m lucky that I don’t suffer with my body too much but if there is anywhere that feels it sometimes, it’s my legs, which is weird as a lot of people would assume it would be your upper body. 

What’s the toughest thing about being an athlete?
Maintaining the discipline and staying consistent. When you’re motivated it’s easy to get up early and go to the gym and eat healthy, but the toughest part is those days where you perhaps don’t want to go or are lacking that motivation and despite that, remaining strict with yourself.

MOTIVATION

What’s your training mantra?
Every day I just wake up and think it’s a new day to become both a better boxer and athlete.

How do you keep going mentally when things get tough?
I always think back to why I’m doing it and that’s because I enjoy it but I also do this for my family. Also, I remind myself that I am mentally tough myself and it’s just a mind state because I know my body can do it.

Do you have a mental exercise you complete or something/someone you think about?
I’ve read a few books on meditation and I find it really interesting how the mind works. One of the exercises I do is mindfulness which is about being aware of your surroundings and that whatever is going on in your life, not letting that consume you. Away from that, I just think how I want to repay my family for their belief in me. Boxing can be a lucrative sport and I drive myself to think how much I want to give back.

What’s been your greatest sporting moment so far?
I would say winning the National Amateur Championships and then the Tri-Nations but to be honest, getting onto the GB Boxing programme is my greatest sporting moment. It has and will continue to give me the platform to be the best I can be and compete against the very best internationally.

NUTRITION

Which foods fuel your training?
As a super-heavyweight, I’m lucky that I don’t have to restrict myself from too many foods. That being said, I do make the decision to restrict myself from foods that don’t help fuel me. Whenever I eat I always make sure everything is of benefit to me and my training. A lot of what I eat will be whole foods. They’ll be plentiful but they will be thinks like porridge, salmon, vegetables. In an average day I’ll consume 4500/5000 calories a day but it’s all good food and I’ll avoid anything processed.

What are you go-to feel-good treats?
100% my go-to is chocolate! It’s one of those things that I save for when I’ve finished competing – it’s probably the first thing I think about!

How does nutrition improve your performance?
It makes a massive difference. For example, if I have a cheat meal, after it, I’ll feel slow and sluggish. When it comes to food and performance, they go hand in hand. When I eat good foods, I can feel it in my training. I’m getting faster, I’m hitting harder, I’m lifting more. Overall, it makes me feel so much better on the inside.

What performance foods do you enjoy most and why?
I really like all types of nuts. Salmon too, I eat that every day. Porridge. I must have a bowl of that every single day. I love chicken too but not as much as salmon!

TOP TIPS

Any go-to fitness tips you can recommend. Perhaps a 3 or 4 step move you recommend
Making sure you are consistent. Whatever the goal you need to make sure you are consistent with it. Don’t push yourself loads one day and then another day barely do anything, it’s about finding the perfect balance which suites what you want to achieve.

What’s the hardest skill in your sport to perfect?
I feel like the hardest skill in boxing is not one you can learn in training and is instead one you have to work on during competitions or actual bouts and that is staying relaxed. When you relax and don’t tense up, your mind is clear and with that you can execute the game plan. The best way to work on this is to just be competing as often as possible so that eventually it becomes second nature to you. 

Advice on preparing mentally to get involved
It sounds obvious but just give it a go and see what you think. Don’t set yourself any major expectations, instead perhaps set yourself simple goals that are achievable and build yourself up. The most important thing when starting anything new though is making sure you are enjoying it cause if you’re not then there is no point doing it. 

GAMES PLAN

What would be your dream outcome from the Games?
I have a couple. One is the publicity and awareness it will generate of who I am and what I do. The other is to inspire the younger generation. I speak from experience of being inspired by Anthony Joshua and if I can do the same thing then that would be amazing. Then of course, the obvious and biggest dream is to win that gold medal

What are your goals beyond 2022?
Keep on developing and improving as a boxer, athlete, and person. I want to keep competing as much as possible and with that hopefully earn my place at the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

FUN STUFF

Can you share three quirky facts not many people know about you

Are there any sports you aren’t good at?
Swimming, as I can’t swim and football because I always got put in goal in school and I’m no good!

How do you unwind away from sport?
I like to play video games, but I also do a lot of reading about either finance or meditation. I’m also a big fan of long walks and spending plenty of time with family.

What’s the strangest thing that’s happened during competition?
In one of my earlier amateur bouts, I got told off for putting my name down as Delicious as they thought it was a nickname, but I had to explain that it is infact my actual given name!

GRASSROOTS

What would you say to someone thinking about trying your sport?
Go into it with a clear mind and give it a go. Whether it’s just a bit of bag work, see what you think and you never know you might fall in love with it. Give yourself a goal of what you would like to achieve whether that’s just to keep/get fit or whether it’s to eventually compete – boxing is for everyone.

What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
The road to the top is full of ups and downs. Good and bad days. But the most important thing is not being disheartened by it because when you step back and look at it, the only way is up from where you are. Most of my competitions have been wins; however, I’ve actually learned more from the defeats I’ve suffered and that’s only positive thing as you just have to work and improve and get better at what you do.