Shane McGuigan says he will prepare a plan to beat "the best cruiserweight on the planet" when he takes on his former fighter Lawrence Okolie with Chris Billam-Smith on May 27.
Okolie will put his WBO cruiserweight title on the line against Billam-Smith next month in his former training partner's hometown of Bournemouth, live on Sky Sports.
The pair both worked under McGuigan until Okolie joined up with SugarHill Steward, and the trainer says he knows from experience how much more the champion has to offer than he showed in a workmanlike points win over David Light in Manchester last month.
"I don't think it was the best performance, but we're not preparing for that," McGuigan said. "We're preparing for the best Lawrence Okolie and that's the one that I feel was in my gym for the last three years.
"He's got multiple strengths. He's six foot five, with a six foot nine reach. Can punch with either hand. He's physical. He's athletic.
"I believe he is the best cruiserweight on the planet right now, but for every strength there's a weakness and we will devise a plan to beat him."
