SIMON Akufo has lined up a career defining fight with Russia’s Ilya Usachev.

Halesowen ’s kickboxing king, the WKF welterweight champion, will take on the WKA champion at Birmingham’s Irish Centre on December 1.

The clash comes after extensive negotiations and will be promoted by Akufo himself under the WWKO banner.

Akufo said: “I’m over the moon about the whole thing, I’m totally buzzing.

“This is a massive fight for me and the night I will cement my position as world champion.

“Beating this guy will mean everything.

“We’ve pretty much got everything sorted, the only thing I haven’t done is book his flights over here.

“It is going to be a really big night.”

The Halesowen man’s training partner Richard Waller is also set to fight on the bill against another Russian, Denis Lukashov.

Akufo claimed the WKF belt last October with a third round knockout of Chris Deakin.

But he suffered frustration in May as a much-anticipated grudge match with Scot Taylor fell through at the very last minute.

Usachev beat Taylor with an 11th round knockout in his previous fight, a fact Akufo is all too aware of.

He added: “Even if the fight with Taylor had actually happened, this one was still next on the agenda.

“He beat Scot and I need to beat him to prove I am the best. I cannot wait.”