Nigerian-born British welterweight Larry “The Natural” Ekundayo will take on hard-hitting Briton, Gary “Hellraiser” Corcoran for the vacant World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Inter-Continental welterweight title in Copper Box Arena, London tomorrow July 8.
Ekundayo, who is 35 years old and is unbeaten in 12 fights, beat Ghanaian Joseph Lamptey by a unanimous decision to win the vacant African Boxing Union welterweight title in 2015.
As an amateur, Ekundayo represented Nigeria at the All-African Games in Abuja in 1999 and was a quarterfinalist at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
His opponent, Corcoran is 26 years old and has fought 17 fights losing just one. He had previously held the title when he beat Danny Butler in March 2016 but lost it when Liam Williams floored him four months later.
Corcoran made his professional debut in 2011 while Ekundayo, who was born in Lagos made his debut in March 2012 beating Ben Deghani from Scotland.
Ekundayo had earlier received support from world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua when the latter urged Nigerians across London and the world to support the London-based pugilist. He also received blessings from the Ooni of Ife who told him to make Nigeria and the Yorubas proud.
The last holder of the title was Australian Jeff Horn, who recently caused an uproar in the boxing world when his win against the legendary Manny Pacquiao was shrouded in controversy.