Reigning EBU European Cruiserweight Champion Yves Ngabu believes that he will have too much in his arsenal for his latest challenger Lawrence Okolie as they prepare to clash on the huge Regis Prograis vs. Josh Taylor card at The O2 in London this Saturday, shown live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US.

Hailing from the suburbs of Roeselare in the Flemish province of West Flanders, Belgium, but fighting out of the world-famous Wincobank gym in Sheffield under the guidance of Dominic Ingle, Ngabu is primed to make the third defence of his European crown against British and Commonwealth champ Okolie.

Ngabu captured the coveted European title in 2017 as he sent opponent Tamas Lodi of Hungary to the canvas in round four, and moments later scored a stoppage in what would become a momentous night in the history of Belgian boxing.

In his maiden defence Ngabu halted Geoffrey Battelo in three rounds in January 2018 but was forced to travel the full 12 rounds by Micki Nielsen in his last defence in February this year.

The 30-year-old arrives in London sporting an impressive looking 20-0 record, with 14 of those wins coming via KO or stoppage, and he plans to inflict the first defeat on the record of rising star Okolie.

“He has good power and a long reach but I feel like I have much more than him in my arsenal”, said Ngabu. “I know how Lawrence fights. People say he holds a lot but I know that and I have prepared for him on the inside. This is my time.

“I can adapt to every style. I can fight, I can punch and I can take punches too. I’m ready and I have done everything that I could have done to prepare for this fight. I have a great trainer in Dominic Ingle and I’m going to win this fight no matter what.

“I have fought guys with a bigger punch than him, I’ve fought guys who are more experienced than him so I am more than ready for Lawrence Okolie. He’s the best in his weight in the UK but he hasn’t made the jump to European level yet. This is his test.

“When I first came to this country my mission was to get a top trainer and then to win my fights,” added Ngabu. “I come from a small country where the sport is not famous, not big. So these are the things I need to do to show me to the world and what I can do.

“The British fans are the best in the world but I’m focused only on my job. I want to reach the top and to do that I need to beat Lawerence Okolie. I know he is the best Cruiserweight in the U.K, that is why I have to fight him to get him out of my way. I’m ready to go!”

Okolie vs. Ngabu is part of a huge night of action in London.

Main event sees WBA Super-Lightweight Champion Regis Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs) and IBF Super-Lightweight Champion Josh Taylor (15-0, 13 KOs) square off for the World Boxing Super Series Ali Trophy, Liverpool Heavyweight fan favourite David Price (25-6, 20 KOs) steps in to face Derek Chisora (31-9, 22 KOs) in a huge all-British clash, three weight World Champion Ricky Burns (43-7-1, 16 KOs) tackles former IBF Lightweight ruler Lee Selby (27-2, 9 KOs) in an intriguing match-up at 135lbs, Conor Benn (15-0, 10 KOs) defends his WBA Continental Welterweight title against Steve Jamoye (26-7-2, 5 KOs), German Super-Middleweight talent Denis Radovan (12-0-1, 5 KOs) meets former Commonwealth Champion Luke Blackledge (26-8-2, 9 KOs), Watford Bantamweight prospect Shannon Courtenay (3-0, 1 KO) aims to go 4-0, Houston Middleweight talent Austin Williams (3-0, 3 KOs) fights in the UK for the first time and Berlin’s Abass Baraou (7-0, 4 KOs) takes on John O’Donnell (33-2, 11 KOs) for the WBC International Super-Welterweight title.

Lawrence Okolie can take another step towards a World title when he challenges dangerous EBU European Champion Yves Ngabu at The O2 in London this Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US. 

The unbeaten 26-year-old Londoner has proved himself the dominant force on the domestic Cruiserweight scene in the last two years and now he plans to reign supreme in Europe when he meets the toughest test of his career in Belgium’s Ngabu.

Ngabu, trained by Dominic Ingle at the world-famous Wincobank gym in Sheffield, could be considered a big step up in class for Okolie, however, the 6’5” British and Commonwealth Champion is supremely confident of ripping the belt from the undefeated visitor in impressive style.

“I’ll stop him,” said Okolie without hesitation when asked about his thoughts on the fight. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good fighter with good footwork and he believes in his power. He will come to have a fight but I’ll take his title away from him.

“It’s more about the belt. I don’t know him or care about him as a person. He’s got something that I want in the European title. I want to have won the British, Commonwealth and European titles within 14 fights. He’s highly-ranked and undefeated too so it’ll be a good string to my bow. 

“He’s 20-0 with 14 knockouts, he’s a solid opponent. He hasn’t really boxed too many top level opponents. This is a good step-up and I’d like one more before I start challenging for World titles. It’s an interesting time in the Cruiserweight division where belts are free and there’s new guys coming through.”

Okolie vs. Ngabu is part of a huge night of action in London. 

Main event sees WBA Super-Lightweight Champion Regis Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs) and IBF Super-Lightweight Champion Josh Taylor (15-0, 13 KOs) square off for the World Boxing Super Series Ali Trophy, Liverpool Heavyweight fan favourite David Price (25-6, 20 KOs) steps in to face Derek Chisora (31-9, 22 KOs) in a huge all-British clash, three weight World Champion Ricky Burns (43-7-1, 16 KOs) tackles former IBF Lightweight ruler Lee Selby (27-2, 9 KOs) in an intriguing match-up at 135lbs, Conor Benn (15-0, 10 KOs) defends his WBA Continental Welterweight title against Laszlo Toth (28-5-1, 19 KOs), German Super-Middleweight talent Denis Radovan (12-0-1, 5 KOs) meets former Commonwealth Champion Luke Blackledge (26-8-2, 9 KOs), Watford Bantamweight prospect Shannon Courtenay (3-0, 1 KO) aims to go 4-0, Houston Middleweight talent Austin Williams (3-0, 3 KOs) fights in the UK for the first time and Berlin’s Abass Baraou (7-0, 4 KOs) takes on John O’Donnell (33-2, 11 KOs) for the WBC International Super-Welterweight title.

Micki Nielsen (25-1, 15 KOs) is full of confidence as he prepares to challenge Yves Ngabu (19-0, 14 KOs) for the European Cruiserweight title on Saturday night at the Eventhal Schiervelde in Roeselare, Belgium.

Nielsen faces his biggest career test as he attempts to dethrone the undefeated champion in his backyard, but the hard-hitting Copenhagen-native believes he is up to the challenge and ready to bring the EBU belt back to Denmark.

“I feel great,” said Nielsen. “I’ve boxed away from home before, and to be honest, it doesn’t bother me, especially when I know I have what it takes to win.

“I’ve had no problem making weight, my conditioning is good, and my coach says I’m in my best shape ever. I’ve worked hard and I’m ready to become European Champion on Saturday.”

Ngabu claimed the European title with a fourth-round knockout win over Tomas Ladi in April 2017, before retaining the belt in similarly emphatic fashion when stopping Geoffrey Battelo in the fourth-round in his first defence in January.

“He’s definitely a good opponent, but I believe I’ve faced better,” says Nielsen, who sees a victory over Ngabu as his route back to the upper echelons of the cruiserweight division following his sole career defeat to Kevin Lerena in 2016.

“I’ve watched his fights and I know he likes to come forward and throw a lot of shots. He throws some good punches and likes to use his uppercuts on the inside, but I’m confident in my own ability and I feel well prepared.

“I want to knock him out in front of his fans on Saturday. It will be a statement for me to prove I’m back and ready to face the best in the division.

“Of course, the victory is the most important thing, but a knockout will bring me back to where I was before my defeat to Lerena, and a European title will open the door to some great fights and some big shows in Denmark. That’s the goal!”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland is backing his man to get the job done in Belgium.

“We’ve only seen glimpses of Micki’s true potential so far,” says Sauerland. “But on Saturday, he has the opportunity to show what he’s made of by taking the title from an undefeated champion. Ngabu is a strong opponent, but I believe Micki has the strength and ability to become European Champion.”

Micki Nielsen’s European Cruiserweight title challenge against Yves Ngabu can be seen live and exclusive in Denmark on TV3 Sport from 20.00 (CET).

Micki Nielsen (25-1, 15 KOs) will challenge Yves Ngabu (19-0, 14 KOs) for the European Cruiserweight title on February 16 at the Eventhal Schiervelde in Roeselare, Belgium.

Nielsen has landed a golden opportunity to claim Euro glory having been named mandatory challenger for Ngabu’s belt, but can expect a tough task, travelling away from home to meet the undefeated champion in his backyard.

Ngabu claimed the European title with a fourth-round stoppage win over Tomas Ladi in April 2017, and recorded his first defence in similarly empathic fashion, forcing Geoffrey Battelo to retire in the third-round in January this year.

“I’m very happy to get the chance to fight for the European title,” said Nielsen. “This is a big opportunity for me and I will do everything possible to bring the belt home to Denmark.

“I know Ngabu is a tough fighter and a strong champion but I believe I can beat him. I’m not worried about going to Belgium and fighting in front of his supporters. A ring is a ring, and when the bell goes, it will be just me and him.

“I’ve never backed down from a challenge and I’ve never turned down a fight. Ngabu should be ready for war because that’s what I’m bringing!”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland is backing his fighter to get the job done in Belgium.

“Throughout his career, we’ve only seen glimpses of Micki’s true potential,” he says. “But on February 16, it’s his time to shine. Yves Ngabu is a good fighter but he’s never met anyone with Micki’s strength and ability before.”