LUKE Watkins says he is ready to make some noise and shake-up the domestic cruiserweight scene when he takes on Lawrence Okolie in London tomorrow night.

The pair are set to meet at a sold-out York Hall as Watkins puts his Commonwealth title on the line in front of Sky Sports’ cameras.

The Swindon fighter, who trains out of Paddy Fitzpatrick’s Ferndale Road gym is looking to exploit the exposure which comes from fighting Okolie, who is backed by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom team.

Being managed by Anthony Joshua also gives Okolie a certain amount of pedigree, according to Watkins, who is looking for career win number 14 on Wednesday.

“I need to thank Lawrence because he didn’t necessarily need to take this fight with myself, I was pushing for this fight,” he said.

“How does a man go from small-hall shows to a larger stage?

“He has to fight the guys who have the big stage,

“Lawrence’s amateur pedigree and the backing he has from Matchroom and Anthony Joshua puts him at the forefront of exposure for our division.

“He’s the top man in regard to you need to go through Lawrence if you’re going to make some noise.

“I’m sure Lawrence is hungry and he wants to be a champion, but I want what he has in respect of I want to be on the big stage.

“I believe there is enough for everyone and I believe I beat Lawrence, which is why I am here.”

Okolie was less than inspiring in his win over Isaac Chamberlain when the two collided at the O2 Arena earlier this year.

However, Watkins, 28, says there is still plenty to think about as he insisted he is wary of the threat posed by Okolie.

“I look at Lawrence’s overall performance in the fight and I don’t think people have given him the credit he deserves for winning that fight,” added the former New College student.

“It’s about getting the win and that is what he did. When I studied his fight now you realise what he was doing.

“You can’t rate a man solely on his last performance because there are a lot of fighters you can write off from their last performance.”