Hackney boxer set to end long exile on Prizefighter show

Hackney heavyweight Larry Olubamiwo will make his long-awaited comeback next week when he boxes on the international Prizefighter bill at York Hall.

Olubamiwo has not fought since January 2012, when he lost to Sam Sexton and was subsequently handed a four-year ban after failing a drugs test.

But the ban has since been lifted and the 35-year-old former Repton ABC amateur will return to the ring in a match between Great Britain and the USA on Thursday November 14.

The show – which features three-weight world champion James Toney in the American team – offers Olubamiwo an opportunity to get his career back on track at last.

Having come from a troubled background, the Hackney man took up boxing while serving a prison sentence and joined Repton following his release.

He reached a national final before turning professional at the age of 29 and won 10 of his first 11 bouts – including six first-round victories – to claim the Southern Area title.

However, Olubamiwo lost the belt to John McDermott in February 2011 and his only contest since then was the Sexton bout, which was stopped in the fifth round.

Lion ABC’s Bobby Ouzman maintained his unbeaten record with victory over Charlie Menelove (Finchley) at the Hooks ABC show in Harrow.

But there was disappointment on the same show for another Lion boxer, last year’s national novices champion Zac Farrugia, who lost a unanimous decision to the home club’s more experienced Mohammed Abid.