The 224-pound bridgerweight division is heating up. In the best match-up in the weight class' nascent history, WBC champion Lawrence Okolie (pictured) has reached an agreement with WBC interim champion Kevin Lerena for a mandatory title defense. The exact datre and venue will be announced soon, according to the WBC. A former cruiserweight champion, Okolie (20-1, 15 KOs) comes into this fight having defeated Lukasz Rozanski in the first round to claim the title last May. Lerena (30-3, 14 KO) is coming off a close heavyweight loss in a competitive battle against Justis Huni. He won the WBC Interim bridgerweight title by defeating Ryad Merhy in 2023.

 

The WBA also recognizes the new weight class, and has title action coming up this week. Russia’s Muslim Gadzhimagomedov and China’s Zhaoxin Zhang will fight for the vacant title on Friday, July 12th in Serpukhov, Russia. The title went vacant after former champion Evgeny Tishchenko tested positive for banned substances. Gadzhimagomedov is a Tokyo (2021) Olympic silver medalist in the 201-pound divisions. He turned pro in 2021 and has measured himself against much more experienced opponents with relatively easy victories over all.  Zhang is looking to make another splash in Russia after knocking out Evgeny Romanov on February 10th in a big way. That important away win earned him a starting opportunity and now he wants to repeat the dose in Orleans.  Gadzhimagomedov comes in with 3 career wins, 2 of them by knockout, while Zhang has 12 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw and 7 knockouts.