Lawrence Okolie will defend his WBO cruiserweight world title in opposition to David Mild on March 25 on the AO Enviornment in Manchester, dwell on Sky Sports activities.

World title hopeful Jack Catterall, in addition to Olympic stars Frazer Clarke and Karriss Artingstall will all be in motion on the blockbuster BOXXER invoice, headlined by Okolie’s world title combat with Mild.

After BOXXER efficiently agreed the purse bid, Okolie will make his long-anticipated return having final fought 12 months in the past.

The undefeated Briton additionally delivered a assured prediction forward of this title conflict.

Okolie believes he’ll lengthen his excellent 18-0 (14) skilled document when he defends his WBO championship in opposition to unbeaten New Zealand rival Mild, who’s unbeaten in 20 professional fights with 12 stoppage wins.

“I am going to make Mild work of him,” mentioned Okolie, who returns to combating dwell and solely on Sky Sports activities.

Okolie’s first skilled victory was in Manchester, in Might 2017 – lower than a 12 months after he competed for Crew GB on the Rio 2016 Olympics – when he sensationally stopped Geoffrey Collapse simply 20 seconds.

Whereas assured he’ll retain his world title in what shall be his third defence since he captured the belt again in March 2021 following a scintillating sixth-round stoppage over Krzysztof Glowacki, Okolie expects Mild to offer a stern take a look at.

“I do know that Sky and BOXXER are going to ship so long as I ship within the ring. I’ve received to verify I beat David Mild after which beat whoever is subsequent,” Okolie added.

“It is good to be again and I am trying ahead to step one within the journey in direction of unifications and extra world titles.”

BOXXER CEO and founder, Ben Shalom mentioned: “We’re heading again to our religious residence of Manchester and we’re bringing ‘The Sauce.’

“Lawrence Okolie’s wait to get again inside a hoop has been properly documented. However I’m delighted to see a correct British elite fighter defending his world title on residence soil.

“The cruiserweight division is arguably essentially the most thrilling weight class within the sport proper now and it is filled with home stars who’re clamouring to be topped king. Lawrence sits on the prime of that mountain – and he’s planning on preserving it that means when he takes on a really harmful challenger in David Mild who Impressively finest Brandon Glanton final outing.”

The North West’s personal Jack Catterall shall be eager to remind the world that he needs to be an undisputed champion himself.

Controversially denied a victory in opposition to Josh Taylor final February, the Chorley fighter had hoped to avenge that night time in Glasgow in a rematch with the WBO super-lightweight champion.

However with the Scot sidelined by means of damage, Catterall should as an alternative flip his consideration to a brand new opponent who shall be named sooner or later.

Shalom mentioned: “It was a travesty what occurred to Jack a 12 months in the past. He needs to be combating now as a world champion. I imagine his time will come – however for now, he must remind us all what he can do and get on the market and combat once more.”

Standard heavyweight Frazer Clarke will return to what has been a really joyful searching floor in Manchester when he takes on skilled US heavyweight Rydell Booker.

Towering 6ft 6in Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medal hero Clarke has gained back-to-back fights on the AO Enviornment and shall be trying to make it a hat-trick when he returns subsequent month.

However in Michigan native Booker, 27-7-1 (14), Clarke faces a person who has stood toe-to-toe with the likes of Jermaine Franklin, Kubrat Pulev, Filip Hrgovic and Otto Wallin.

Booker knocked out Norman Neely final December and can hope to proceed his renaissance in opposition to the highly-rated “Massive Fraze”.

Clarke’s fellow Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Karriss Artingstall returns to motion too.

The southpaw has made an impeccable begin to life as knowledgeable with two wins from two outings – together with her spectacular factors victory in opposition to Marina Sakharov on what was a historic all-female night time of Boxing at The O2 in London final October.

An opponent for the featherweight prospect shall be introduced sooner or later, together with a bunch of different cracking fights for what guarantees to be an epic night time within the North West on March 25.

To pre-register your curiosity for tickets, go to boxxer.com