Delicious Orie, the breakout star of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games who won gold in the superheavyweight division, has announced his retirement from professional boxing. The 28-year-old from Wolverhampton will now attend the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as a spectator, marking a significant shift from his previous role as a competitor.
A Glorious Run to Gold
Orie's journey to Commonwealth gold in Birmingham was nothing short of spectacular. He defeated India's Sagar Ahlawat in the final, capping off a memorable tournament that launched his career onto the international stage. Following his success, Orie competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics before turning professional in early 2025. However, after just one professional bout—a victory over Milos Veletic—he announced his shock retirement, citing a desire to pursue a career in the corporate world.
Retirement and New Beginnings
Despite stepping away from competition, Orie remains deeply involved in boxing. He continues to coach younger generations and leads fitness classes regularly. In his own words: "I still box. I am involved in a lot of coaching for the younger generation and do fitness classes regularly. I think boxing is a great sport, and it's taught me a lot about life. It's a fantastic tool, particularly for younger generations. For me, it was more the competition side. What I get a lot of from boxing still is fitness and discipline. I just didn't want to make a career out of it. That was all."
Return to Glasgow as a Spectator
Orie will return to the city of his Commonwealth triumph for a SportsAid Live event on May 28. He has also been invited to participate in the King's Baton Relay, which takes place from May 26-31, with Team England's official automotive partner Geely playing a central role in England's leg of the relay. Reflecting on his Birmingham success, Orie said: "That Commonwealth Games was probably the best tournament of my boxing career. It's weird because it feels like I'll be doing it all over again, but I'm not really. It wasn't just a home Games. For me, it was like my city games as it was so close to where I grew up. It was half an hour down the road to where I boxed. It meant a lot to be able to show my friends, family, and people that I got to know over the years in Birmingham what I do and to bring back the gold medal. That was the first competition for me that really got my name out there, particularly because it was local as well."
Cheering on the Next Generation
England's boxing hopefuls heading to Glasgow will aim to emulate Orie's success and grace. Orie himself is eager to support them from the stands: "It's only in Glasgow, so it will never be a problem to get down. I'll be watching as part of the audience because it's an incredible event to go to." Team England are Ready to Win at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Keep up to date on teamengland.org.
