Viddal Riley and Mikael Lawal to collide in huge bet365 Wildcard contest on bumper 'Bad Blood' bill

Cruiserweight rivals Viddal Riley and Mikael Lawal will collide in a special bet365 Wildcard contest as part of BOXXER’s bumper ‘Bad Blood’ bill at London’s O2 Arena on Easter Sunday.

The highly-anticipated showdown will feature on the undercard of the huge domestic heavyweight dust-up between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke on March 31, where the Ipswich man will put his British & Commonwealth titles on the line.

The huge night of action, which is being screened live on Sky Sports, will see Riley (10-0, 6 KOs) return to action following a dominant points victory over Nathan Quarless in September; a success that landed him the English cruiserweight title.

Announcing the bet365 Wildcard fight, BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “This is another exciting addition to an already action-packed night of boxing, and credit to both men for taking this fight. 

“Viddal Riley is taking a serious step up against a very dangerous fighter in Mikael Lawal, who has everything to prove following his defeat to Isaac Chamberlain - it really is a wildcard contest. 

“I’m expecting an all-action fight between the two Londoners on Sunday, March 31st at The O2.”

Riley has set his sights on the big fights in a stacked domestic division this year and will undoubtedly face his toughest test to date when he faces former British cruiserweight strap holder Lawal (17-1, 11 KOs) in the capital.

The 28-year-old will be looking to get back to winning ways, and subsequently put his name back into the domestic mix, after succumbing to the first professional defeat of his career at the hands of Isaac Chamberlain in October.

However, Lawal will have it all to do against one of the hottest prospects in British boxing, and a fighter who holds genuine world title aspirations.

“I look forward to the first notable name in my career being ticked off,” the exciting 200lb campaigner, Riley, said following the announcement.

“I respect Mikael Lawal as a former British champion and as we know, that’s a goal of mine, so this is a perfect level check for me.”

The huge BOXXER bill at the O2 will be topped by the colossal showdown between the two unbeaten heavyweight rivals Fabio Wardley (17-0, 16 KOs) and Frazer Clarke (8-0, 6 KOs).

Reigning British & Commonwealth champion Wardley is on an incredible 16-fight knockout streak, which has seen him steamroll his way through the domestic division. 

The 29-year-old was at his devastating best last time out when dismantling David Adeleye on the Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou undercard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bronze Medallist Clarke (7/4) is just eight fights into his promising professional career, but will propel himself up the rankings and capture his first professional title if he can upstage the 4/9 betting favourite.

'Bad Blood' also features Florian Marku (4/5) v Chris Kongo (1/1), with the pair finally getting the opportunity to settle their long-simmering welterweight rivalry, whilst 'The Surgeon' Ben Whittaker, Alen 'The Savage' Babic and rising super-middleweight contender Callum Simpson are all scheduled to feature.
 

Mark Mothershaw

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