Lawrence Okolie (20-1) will stay at the middling bridgerweight division to defend his WBC title against South African opposition and mandatory opponent Kevin Lerena (30-3).
It has been suggested by many fans and pundits alike that Okolie and his bridgerweight belt would be the perfect match-up for former WBC World Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (43-3-1). However, as ‘The Bronze Bomber’ seems to be oxidising, Lerena has exercised his right as the mandatory challenger in order to earn another title shot.
Okolie, despite looking for opportunities at heavyweight, appears to be comfortable with remaining at bridgerweight; something that was crystal clear in his one round demolition of the bullish and hot-headed Lukasz Rozanski (15-1) in Poland.
‘The Sauce’ unleashed his long, lethal limbs on the advice of new trainer Joe Ghallager to unfurl the Pole in a single round – a far cry from the fighter who grabbed and hugged Chris Billam-Smith (20-1) in his first career defeat.
Lerena, meanwhile, seems destined for the bridgerweight division as the South Africans best years were firmly in the cruiserweight division, where he picked up the WBF African, WBC Youth Silver, South African and IBO World Cruiserweight titles with wins over the likes of Firat Arslan (55-9-3), before taking the plunge into the heavyweight division.
His time at the heavier weight proved far more tumultuous, with wins over Mariusz Wach (38-10) for the IBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title and Ryan Merhy (32-3) interspersed with a loss against Daniel Dubois (21-2) for the WBA World title.
A move to bridgerweight could merit Lerena with his first taste of genuine world honours, if the new and dangerous Okolie falters.
Despite the illegitimate nature of the bridgerweight division in the eyes of fans, a bout between two capable opponents will be satisfying, even if it plays out for a title such as the WBC Bridgerweight one.