TRAINER Paddy Fitzpatrick says Luke ‘The Duke’ Watkins will be in a ‘significant fight’ in his next bout after revealing the boxer had a two-fight agreement with Matchroom Boxing supremo Eddie Hearn.

The Ferndale Road-based trainer says he will beginning planning for the Swindon cruiserweight after he and Watkins have taken a break.

Watkins lost his Commonwealth crown after Lawrence Okolie recorded a third-round knockout at Bethnal Green’s York Hall on Wednesday, inflicting a first professional defeat on the Swindon fighter.

The show was put on by Okolie’s promotional company Matchroom, and after revealing that 'Duke' signed a two-fight agreement, Fitzpatrick says he expects the 28-year-old to be back in the ring later this year.

“I’m looking to get Luke back out in September ideally, because he has been through a really hard 18 months,” he said.

“He’ll have a bit of a break now. I don’t want to see him in or around the gym for at least a month, then me, my wife and children will probably meet up with him for a holiday.

“I left Eddie (Hearn) a phone call on Thursday morning because we had a two-fight agreement in place. Duke will be back in a significant fight straight away.

“I think they have seen a lot to like from him, the way he has conducted himself building up to the fight and the way he fought in the fight.

“I don’t see any reason why Eddie won’t be excited to do the next fight we have and move on from there.”

Fitzpatrick also heaped praise on referee Michael Alexander after he allowed Watkins to climb off the canvas in the third round, before subsequently being knocked down moments later for the final time.

“If Luke’s condition wasn’t so good, he wouldn’t have been able to take that and get up in the third like he did,” added Fitzpatrick.

“Luke was out for the count, but he jumped up off the canvas and we thank the referee for allowing the champion time to act like a champion.

“When he got knocked down the first time, he was laying flat on his back, a lot of referees would have got nervous and ended it there.

“But he got up, saw that Duke got his hands up and let him go at it again.

"It simply is what it is, Duke said it perfectly himself, he said he’s got to move sideways and Lawrence moves ahead.”