The latest news from the local boxing scene

Big-punching cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie looks to continue his quick-fire winning run when he joins the line-up of Matchroom prospects on parade at York Hall on Friday night.

East Londoner Okolie, the former Repton amateur who reached Olympic status last year, has scored four wins all in the first round, in an explosive start to his paid career and finding an opponent for Friday has not been easy for matchmaker Neil Bowers.

The 24-year-old was keen on a battle with local rival Wadi Camacho, the hard hitting former Southern Area champion, in what would have certainly been his toughest pro bout to date.

The pair swapped challenges, but that promising clash has been deferred for a later date, while the ‘Machoman’ has been pencilled in for a November meeting with another local boxer in Jose Lopes.

Promoter Eddie Hearn calls up his ‘next generation’ of fighting hopefuls for Friday’s show, which super welterweight Ted Cheeseman and light-heavyweight Jake Ball in ten-round contests.

Conor Benn, the son of former world champion Nigel, hopes to make it eight wins out of eight as he continues his pro apprenticeship against another unbeaten rival in Kane Baker, while Okolie’s former Olympic team mate Joshua Buatsi gets his second pro test.

Other unbeaten prospects on the show include Danny Dignum, Felix Cash and Joe Cordina in the promising curtain-raising show at the east London venue.

That is followed at York Hall on September 9 by a Goodwin promotion headed by title clashes for Joel McIntyre and Leon McKenzie, as well as local prospects Daniel Khan and Harjeet Singh on the promoter’s usual packed programme.

Meanwhile, the September action continues as Frank Warren heads his Copper Box show with the Billy Joe Saunders v Willie Monroe Jr. world title clash and bouts featuring big-hitting hopes Anthony Yarde and Daniel Dubois on September 16.

Promising newcomers Hamzah Sheeraz and Umar Sadiq are booked for debuts on a promising undercard which also sees action for Joe Pigford, Lucien Reid, Archie Sharpe and Zac Chelli.

It looks set to be another busy month for local talent, with plenty of fights booked at some of the most iconic venues in east London.