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!”
