SWINDON cruiserweight Luke ‘The Duke’ Watkins will return to the ring later this year against Isaac Chamberlain, according to his trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick.

Watkins took a short break from the sport after his defeat to Lawrence Okolie back in June, but is now ready to step back in the squared circle in October when he will face Londoner Chamberlain.

Both men have one defeat on their professional records, both inflicted by Okolie, and will now go head-to-head.

When Watkins agreed to face Eddie Hearn's Matchroom fighter Okolie, Fitzpatrick ensured it was a two-fight deal, with a bout against Chamberlain being the second if he lost to the Olympian.

The 28-year-old lost his Commonwealth title but is now set to get back in the mix on Saturday, October 27.

Fitzpatrick explained a deal for the fight has already been agreed, and claimed Hearn was uninterested in putting Watkins up against Wadi Camacho for the Commonwealth title again, after Okolie vacated the strap.

“We have an agreement that we made going into the Okolie fight that should it not end up how we wanted, we would then have a fight with Isaac Chamberlain,” he said.

“His name is written in so we have agreed that with Eddie Hearn already. Now it comes down to Eddie not getting back to me because there were opportunities there that we could have had.

“Eddie text me back saying he wasn’t interested in Duke fighting Wadi for the Commonwealth title. He wanted Duke against Isaac.

“He has said that to me on a couple of occasions now, he said it on August, 9 and July 13 where he said it looked like it would be for Saturday, October 27.

“Duke is happy to fight Isaac, but I’m content that as far as we are concerned, he is fighting Isaac because that is what we agreed.

“That is what Eddie agreed and has said that’s the fight he wants since."

Fitzpatrick believes the fight will be an acid test for Watkins, who is out to prove he can push on from domestic competition.

British champion Matty Askin takes on Okolie at Wembley Stadium in September, and while that fight will get plenty of attention, he thinks this bout will capture the imagination too.

“I think it’s a great fight because the winner becomes number two in Britain,” added Fitzpatrick.

“Matty has Lawrence and I have Lawrence winning that. It’s a very good fight and the winner of that fight is obviously number one.

“Craig Kennedy has been inactive and so has Tommy McCarthy. I think the winner of Luke and Isaac will the second best in Britain and then back into big fights.

“I think Luke and Isaac is a good fight. It is interesting and is one of those where everyone who is involved in the industry will rate it.

“They both only have losses to Lawrence, so let’s see which one is going to move on.”