Boxing star Delicious Orie reveals why he retired after only one skilled combat

Orie looked set for a strong professional career but called time on boxing after winning his first pro fight.

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Delicious Orie has opened up about why he retired just one bout into his dream professional boxing career.

A gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games was followed by selection for the Paris Olympics in 2024, and less than a year later, Orie earned his first professional contract. His first bout was a success as he beat Milos Veletic on points but within three months, the 28-year-old announced his shock retirement and plan to enter the corporate world instead.

He said: “It was a big mental shift for me. It was a bit strange and caught me off guard for a couple of months, but I’m eight months in now and it feels like this is what I’m meant to be doing. I’ve worked really hard and done almost all of my exams to become chartered as a financial advisor.

“I take a lot of the things that I’ve learned from being an athlete into the corporate world. The whole thing of discipline, commitment, and just being absolutely relentless has helped me and paid dividends in the corporate world.”

Born to a Nigerian father and Russian mother in Moscow, Orie moved to Wolverhampton at seven years old and graduated from Aston University with a degree in Economics and Management. He said: “I left university and then went straight into Team GB and training as a full-time athlete, so I never really got to experience life at the office.

“The first few months, particularly when I started work, were quite strange. As you grow and develop, you have experiences in life that push you to limits that you didn’t even get to as an athlete. You learn what motivates other people and yourself.

“I’m currently living in this transition period, in that feeling of confusion. While I know I’m going the right way and following my heart, you don’t know what will happen next year. But I know in 40 years time I will be immensely proud of myself. I want to push the message to my grandchildren that you need to follow what makes you feel fulfilled on this planet.”

Orie does still box in his spare time and spends hours coaching the next generation, but he remains happy with his decision to step away from the sport at the top level. This summer, he is participating in the Kings Baton Relay, which is being supported by Team England’s official automotive partner, Geely, as part of the build-up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

He said: “My perception of what fulfilled me changed. And not overnight. It was a slow adaptation of my meaning of purpose and life, and that meant stopping boxing as a result. I got a dog too. Now I’m committed to going out for walks and really focusing on myself internally. Since I can remember, the focus has always been to impress other people. I got the GCSEs and the A-levels to be the best person in the class, but it was for other people.

“The more you work on anything, the more you find out about yourself. Over time, you find out what actually fulfils you and pushes you forward. What I am feeling right now is fulfilment. I think that’s more important than being proud, sad, excited, nervous, or anxious. I feel all those things all the time, because they’re fleeting emotions. I feel them every day, but I’m fulfilled.

“If you had asked me last year, I was also anxious, happy, nervous, and excited, but I wasn’t fulfilled.”

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