Bilston boxing sensation Delicious Orie has disclosed that the looming threat of depression was the primary catalyst for his unexpected decision to retire from the sport. The 28-year-old fighter, who clinched a gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, walked away last May, merely a month after making his professional debut.
From Stardom to Sudden Exit
Orie had been widely regarded as a future world champion, attracting intense interest from major promoters following his transition to the professional ranks. However, in a candid interview with the BBC, he explained that boxing no longer provided the same sense of fulfillment it once did.
"I fear I would have ended up being a world champion but a very depressed, sad and miserable world champion," Orie stated. "I genuinely thought money was the answer to my emptiness, and I worked eight years to get that money. I was predicted to earn a lot more, only to realise it made me feel emptier."
Money vs. Fulfillment
He elaborated on the distinction between financial gain and personal satisfaction, noting, "Money gives you a little bit of happiness, it really does. But it gives you zero fulfillment. What I learned getting to that point was I am not going to be fulfilled and I am going to end up in a place I don't want to be in the next few years, if I don't make a change."
When questioned about his concerns regarding depression, Orie responded unequivocally, "Most definitely, 100 per cent. I feel like I would have been really stupid to know that and still keep going."
A Journey from Russia to the Ring
Born in Russia, Orie moved to the United Kingdom at the age of seven and only began boxing at 18, inspired by watching Anthony Joshua on television. He attended Colton Hills Academy and became a prominent figure for the Birmingham 2022 Games, securing gold in a thrilling night at the NEC.
After qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Orie suffered a controversial first-round defeat, which marked a turning point in his feelings toward the sport. "There was no plan B, there was no other thing, it was just tunnel vision to win that medal," he recalled. "So the fact that I didn't magnified the feeling even more when my hand wasn't raised."
Sacrifices and Sobering Realisations
Reflecting on the sacrifices made, Orie added, "I gave everything to the sport, I missed everything - happiness, birthdays, weddings, funerals, everything. Knowing that I could never achieve that again when I didn't have my hand raised, that was very sobering."
Now working as a financial advisor, Orie concluded, "I had to make a choice. I either stepped away when it was more or less too late - when in my third or fourth year I get knocked out by some up-and-coming guy who purely just wants it more than me. Or I have the power in my hands to step away and walk away from the things that I could have got."
