New Zealand boxer David Light has secured what trainer Isaac Peach believes is the perfect date for his world cruiserweight title challenge against WBO champion Lawrence Okolie.
New Zealand cruiserweight boxer David Light. Photo: Photosport
The WBO confirmed late on Thursday the fight would take place in London on 12 March (NZ time).
In a statement, the WBO said the respective teams had reached an agreement for the mandatory bout, which Light earned with a gutsy split decision win over unbeaten American Brandon Glanton in Florida earlier this month.
Peach said they were delighted Okolie's team had worked with them to put the fight together so quickly, and couldn't be more satisfied with the date.
"It's perfect," Peach told RNZ on Friday.
"It gives us a month of recouping [David's] body and then we've got a 10-week camp to that date. It's absolutely perfect."
Speaking of perfect, Light took his professional record to an unblemished 20-0 with victory over the highly-touted Glanton.
But the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medalist from Auckland knew he was stepping up again in challenging Okolie.
The 30-year-old British star was also undefeated, at 18-0, with all but four of those wins coming by knockout.
While acknowledging the title holder's class, Peach had no doubt it was a winnable fight.
"Okolie is the best champion in the [cruiserweight] division. He's huge, six-foot-five, is a massive puncher and knocks most people out.
"It's a big test but I also think he's a bit vulnerable in some areas, so it's up to us to exploit those.
"We're going to be big underdogs, but I think we're going to win."
Confidence which came not only from what Light had proven, but the ongoing success the red-hot Peach Boxing stable had been enjoying.
Photo: Supplied
Along with Light, the West Auckland gym boasted three other undefeated fighters moving their way into world title shot conversations.
Women's bantamweight Mea Motu and light heavyweight Jerome Pampellone both progressed to 15-0 this year, while hard-hitting middleweight Andrei Mikhailovich was 19-0.
Peach, who runs the gym alongside wife Alina, said it was still dawning on them that they had secured their first crack at a world championship belt.
"I don't think it's sunk in at all. It's pretty unbelievable and it seems like a bit of a dream.
"It's been a goal for everyone in the gym and for one of them to be here now is crazy.
"2022 was huge but 2023 is going to be even bigger. They're all ready to take whatever big fights get thrown at us."
Light's official training camp would begin on New Year's Day, with the team planning to arrive in the UK two weeks before the fight against Okolie at a yet-to-be-confirmed venue.
- RNZ