Lawrence Okolie (14-0, 11 KOs) will fight Polish cruiserweight Nikodem Jezewski (19-0-1, 9 KOs) this Saturday on the Anthony Joshua v Kubrat Pulev card world heavyweight title card at London’s SSE Arena.
Okolie was due to face Krzysztof Glowacki for the vacant WBO cruiserweight title but the bout was called off when Jezewski’s compatriot tested positive for Covid-19 last week. Another Pole, Michal Cieslak, had been in the running to face the Brit but Hearn confirmed this morning on Instagram live that Okolie’s opponent would be Jezewski with no WBO title on the line.
Another replacement for Saturday’s PPV show sees Kieron Conway face Macauley MacGowan instead of Frenchman Souleymane Cissokho. Cissokho, the 2016 Olympic games bronze medallist, tweeted on Saturday that the fight against Conway had been cancelled for “Administrative reasons”.
In other news Hearn confirmed that former super middleweight world title challenge John Ryder will fight on the Gennady Golovkin-Kamil Szeremata show on December 18. Ryder’s next fight will then be against Fedor Chudinov for the ‘Regular’ WBA 168lb title.
Looking to 2021 Hearn told viewers on Instagram live that he hopes to announce this week Matchroom’s first three shows. First off will be Josh Kelly v David Avanesyan. Following that will likely be the Dillian Whyte-Alexander Povetkin rematch which will feature Deion Jumah v Chris Billam-Smith.
In other news:
- Hearn believes that Demeterius Andrade v Billy Joe Saunders will happen next year.
- Kid Galahad will fight for a world title in his next fight.
- Another big-name signing will be announced on Wednesday.
- Scott Fitzgerald will return in January before rematching Anthony Fowler.
- Fabio Wardley will likely face Lucas Browne next.
- Felix Cash will fight Denzel Bentley or for the European title in his next fight.
- Zelfa Barrett will return in January.
- IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington’s next fight could be announced this week.
- Matchroom will stage a show in Australia around April/May