LAWRENCE Bennett says that he is focused on defending his Southern Area crown despite awaiting news from the British Boxing Board of Control about his controversial English cruiserweight title fight.

The self-styled ‘Bad Boy’ is slated to face former Prizefighter champion Wadi Commacho at York Hall, Bethnal Green, on December 5 in a mandatory defence of the belt he won in March 2014.

However, while Bennett says that he is focused on Commacho, he is awaiting to discover whether or not he will get a rematch with English champion Matty Askin.

The 33-year-old Swindon southpaw faced Askin at York Hall last month.

That contest ended in controversy as both men fell out of the ring in the opening round before the reigning champion was stretchered away from the venue with the bout declared a technical draw.

Bennett also had to be ushered back to his changing room as Askin’s fans attempted to gain entry to the ring and get to the Swindon fighter.

The boxing board held their monthly meeting yesterday to discuss potential fights for their British, English and European champions.

“It is a difficult situation,” Bennett told the Advertiser.

“Right now I’m training for Wadi Commacho – he is my mandatory.

“But there are other things going on in the background and I’m waiting to hear what the board have to say.

“I expect to face Wadi Commacho on December 5 and then maybe Matty Askin will find time to get back in the ring with me.”

While craving a rematch with Askin, Bennett says that he cannot afford to take his Spanish-born opponent lightly.

After winning Prizefighter, the 30-year-old, who has five defeats in 18 fights, was tipped for big things.

However, losses to Tony Conquest in British eliminator, big-hitting Scot Stephen Simmons in a WBC International Silver title fight and then back-to-back defeats to Craig Kennedy – one of which Commacho was disqualified for biting – left the London-based southpaw’s career on the rocks.

But Bennett’s opponent got back to winnings on the undercard of his ill-fated English title fight.

“I was at that fight when he got disqualified, he’d been looking strong until then,” Bennett added.

“I wanted to see his last fight but security had got me back to my changing room when he was on, but there is plenty of footage of him around – although it is not the same as seeing them up close.

“In an ideal world I’d be facing Matty Askin, win the English title – I do believe I’m going to knock him out – vacate the Southern Area and then defend against Wadi.

“I’ll leave all the politics and other stuff to my manager (Steve Goodwin) and the board.”