LAWRENCE OKOLIE VS. KEVIN LERENA ADDED TO USYK-DUBOIS II CARD, LAPIN-EDMONDSON ALSO ON BILL
Lawrence Okolie will take on Kevin Lerena on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois' undisputed heavyweight world championship clash at Wembley Stadium on July 19, it's been confirmed.
Okolie (21-1, 16 KOs) hasn't been in action since an easy 1st-round knockout win over Hussein Muhamed last December.
The former cruiserweight and bridgerweight world champion was supposed to take on Richard Riakporhe on April 5 but pulled out of the bout with an injury sustained in training camp.
But now he's back against awkward southpaw Lerena (31-3, 15 KOs), who is best known for dropping current IBF heavyweight champion Dubois three times before being controversially stopped in the 3rd round when they fought in December 2022.
Lerena has also been in with Justis Huni previously, losing by decision on the undercard of Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou in March 2024.
The fight represents a step up in competition for Okolie at heavyweight, where he is the current No. 1 contender with the WBC.
The Londoner has been vocal about his intentions of fighting current 'interim' titleholder Agit Kabayel at some point this year, and a win over Lerena will put him in good stead for a clash with the German.
Elsewhere on the Usyk-Dubois bill, it's been announced that British and commonwealth light heavyweight champion Lewis Edmondson will take on Ukrainian Daniel Lapin.
Lapin has regularly fought Usyk's undercards since September 2021 when the current Ring, WBA, WBC, WBO heavyweight champion took on and beat Anthony Joshua at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
He was also on both Usyk-Tyson Fury cards in May and December 2024, the latter of which he beat Dylan Colin on by 10-round decision.
