Matty Askin vs Lawrence Okolie set for September 22

Top cruiserweight prospect Lawrence Okolie will take his crack at the British cruiserweight title on September 22 at Wembley Stadium, when he challenges reigning champion Matty Askin on the Joshua-Povetkin undercard.

“Every credit to Okolie, he’s vacated the Commonwealth title because he wants this fight but he’s going to end up flat on his back,” said Askin (23-3-1, 15 KO). “I can punch, I can box, and I can have a fight. I’ll do whatever I need to do against him to get the win. I don’t think it will go past four or five rounds, it definitely won’t go the distance.

“We’re both going to come out all guns blazing, it’s as simple as that. He’s going to come out thinking’s he’s going to bang me out straight away. I’m looking to go out there and tear his head off. I’ll be going in there and giving 110%, my 110% beats his 110% every day of the week. I believe that I’m a level above him.”

Okolie (9-0, 7 KO) said, “My ultimate goal is to be the unified world champion but before that I want to go down the traditional route, clean up domestically and prove to myself and the fans that I belong at that level.

“Matty Askin is a very experienced fighter who is ranked in the top 10 in the world. I want to start making my way towards the world scene and so I need to be able to beat people like Askin to do that.

“I’ve won the Commonwealth title in my first two years and I want to keep that trajectory going by winning the British title and hopefully winning a world title before the next Olympics.”