LAWRENCE Okolie has activated his rematch clause to fight Chris Billam-Smith again, the Bournemouth boxer revealed.

Billam-Smith upset the odds to defeat Okolie and become WBO cruiserweight champion with a dream victory at Vitality Stadium in May.

Previously unbeaten Okolie had inserted a rematch clause into the original contract, meaning he was able to fight Billam-Smith again to try and retain his belt, were he to lose.

Billam-Smith had felt Okolie may leave cruiserweight behind and take a step up towards heavyweight.

But it appears the two are set to go at it again later this year.

The Gentleman told Boxing Social: “He activated the rematch clause I believe, so I’ve left it to my team.

“As far as I’m concerned, he’s activated it and they’re working on it. I tell them not to tell me too much.

“They keep me updated with little bits and pieces here and there, but I’m not really interested until it comes to signing the contract or we’ve got a date set in stone.

“I’m back in the gym now training anyway, so I’m there if anything else unfolds. If that’s what’s next, I always thought it would be.

“That’s always been in my mind, (even) before the fight, that I’ve got to beat Lawrence twice before the end of the year.

“That’s always been my mindset, that’s the focus.”

Further down the line, Billam-Smith has eyes on a potential rematch with Richard Riakporhe, the only man to inflict professional defeat on him so far.

The 32-year-old also dreams of a fight in Las Vegas.

But it appears he will have to get past Okolie again first.

The Daily Echo understands a date has been pencilled in for Billam-Smith to return to the ring in Bournemouth in October.

Okolie has recently changed his Instagram bio to read: "Soon to be 2x WBO champion of the world."

Asked after losing in Billam-Smith’s hometown last time out if Okolie would be happy to fight his former gym-mate in Bournemouth again, the Londoner said: “I don’t mind coming to Bournemouth.

“There’s nothing about this that made it anything more than what it was. I’m not going to lie, it was exciting for me. I loved it.

“It’s very hard to recreate that energy from an opponent, coming with everything. For me, obviously I didn’t get the win, but it’s another tick.

“I’ve beaten undefeated guy after undefeated guy, I’ve beaten contenders, but going into someone’s back garden and seeing everything they’ve got.

“Chris, his confidence is probably going to go up off that win, but there’s not really much more to it. If I’m going to lose in Bournemouth, I might as well win here.”