I'll beat KSI's old trainer, claims former cruiserweight champion

Mikael Lawal believes he will be the winner when he fights Viddal Riley on Sunday night.

The two British fighters come together to contest the English cruiserweight stap, currently held by Riley, in a fight shown live on Peacock in the US ( click here for details ).

Lawal is a former British champion himself, and has just one defeat in his career, with 17 wins and 11 stoppages to his name, while Riley is perhaps best known for previously training KSI.

Riley is unbeaten, going 10-0 (6 KOs), but Lawal remains confident.

“I’m looking forward to this one,” Lawal said to BoxingScene.com . “I can’t wait. I can’t lie – when I got the call, I was a bit surprised. At the same time, it was a pleasant surprise.”

Asked if he thinks Riley’s team are underestimating him, he answered “I think they probably are, but I’m not really focused on them.

“That’s not really my job. They might know something I don’t know. Just to make sure, I’ll step in there cautiously and make sure I do what I’ve gotta do when I get in there and outbox him – break him, actually.

“I’m pretty much used to it. It’s been the way right through my career. The way he mentioned my name was almost like I’m a stepping stone to Isaac Chamberlain. If that’s what he thinks and that’s what he believes, then we’ll see on March 31.”

Lawal suggested that he will take Riley’s usual aggression in the ring.

“With the right people he is – not with me,” Lawal observed. “I think he’s gonna be very, very cautious. If he tries to open up, then that’ll be a good day for me. If he tries to box and run, it might be a bit tougher. But I’ll still find a way to catch him.

“I’m just a lot stronger. I’ve got the power, the skill even. I haven’t really even demonstrated my skill, but everybody is gonna see on the night.”

Live on DAZN: Arsen Goulamirian vs. Gilberto Ramirez on March 30. Click here for more details .