LUKE ‘The Duke’ Watkins says sparring sessions with heavyweight Tony Bellew have left him feeling confident as he squares up to Lawrence Okolie this evening.

Both men are set to put their unbeaten professional records on the line, as they come face to-to-face on Matchroom’s sell-out JDNXTGEN show at London’s York Hall.

Watkins, who is the current Commonwealth champion, helped Bellew prepare for his heavyweight triumph over David Haye at the O2 Arena earlier this year.

Coming away from the Liverpudlian’s camp, Watkins felt like he learned a lot from the experience as he defends his Commonwealth strap in the capital, while seeking to take Okolie’s WBC Continental title.

“That was a great learning experience. Tony was a good man to be around,” said the 28-year-old.

“He educated me in good areas in the gym and you could only take good things from that.

“I came away with confidence from that and I understand the level my body can physically and mentally operate at, which is being in there with the likes of him.”

Watkins, who weighed in slightly heavier than his opponent in yesterday’s weigh in as he registered 14st 2lbs 7oz, compared to Okolie’s 14st 2lbs 5oz, says he is acutely aware of the Olympian’s threat.

With that in mind, the former New College student says it is more important than ever that he sticks to the gameplan devised by trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick, who has been in ‘The Duke’s’ corner since he turned professional in 2014.

“Lawrence himself is the danger, it is the attributes he has. It is for me to remain focussed and make sure I keep to the gameplan we have in our heads to overcome him,” added the Swindon man.

“I’ve got power and he has got power. At the end of the day when we are in the ring it is about who can connect,

“If I connect with him, I can stop him. If he connects with me, I’m sure he can stop me but that is the beauty of boxing and we will see what happens.

“I always say this, but I am only ever excited after the fight, not before. That is when you can let all the emotions out.

“Any professional sportsman will tell you that you can’t get ahead of yourself.

“You can’t get too excited beforehand because you don’t want that to overspill when you need your performance at its best. You have got to keep your composure.

“I feel great, I am in great shape.”

UPDATES FROM TONIGHT’S FIGHT WITH MATTHEW DAVIES VIA TWITTER @AdverSport, PLUS NEWS, REACTION & PICTURES AT SWINDONADVERTISER.CO.UK/SPORT AND IN TOMORROW’S SWINDON ADVERTISER. COVERAGE FROM YORK HALL STARTS ON SKY SPORTS ARENA AT 7PM TONIGHT.