Lawrence Okolie vs Kevin Lerena: July 19 Clash Set for Wembley

London, UK - Lawrence Okolie 21-1 (16 KOs) returns to the ring on July 19 at Wembley Stadium, where he’ll face Kevin Lerena 31-3 (15 KOs) in a ten-round heavyweight bout on the undercard of the undisputed title clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois.

It’s an important test for Okolie, the towering Londoner and former cruiserweight world champion, who is unbeaten at heavyweight and currently ranked as the WBC’s No. 1 contender. Originally slated to face Richard Riakporhe in April, Okolie withdrew due to injury, but now steps in with Lerena — a rugged, experienced southpaw with a history of upsetting expectations.

Okolie, 31, last fought in December 2024, scoring a first-round blowout over Hussein Muhamed. While that win helped restore momentum after a disputed points loss at cruiserweight, many observers have been waiting to see how he handles a credible opponent in the heavyweight ranks. Lerena represents just that.

Known for his awkward rhythm and toughness, Lerena stunned fans in 2022 by dropping Daniel Dubois three times in the opening round of their bout — before being controversially stopped in the third. He more recently went the distance with Australian contender Justis Huni in March 2024, giving a decent account of himself despite the loss.

This fight is more than just a test. For Okolie, it's a chance to stay in line for a WBC title shot, potentially against interim belt-holder Agit Kabayel. For Lerena, it's a rare opportunity to muscle his way into the global conversation after years of solid but low-profile efforts.

Okolie has stated openly that his goal is to win a legitimate world title at heavyweight, and Lerena is the kind of durable, left-handed test that will reveal whether he's on track or still searching for the right rhythm above 200 pounds.