Debutant watch - Sam Matkin

Starting out a boxing career is a big enough challenge for any young prospect - but as well as learning the ropes in the professional game, Sam Matkin is studying Law full-time at Huddersfield University.

The 20 year-old, who originally hails from Sheffield, is confident that he can achieve success in both trades!

Sam will make his debut this Saturday night against Graham Fearn and is campaigning in the light-welterweight division.

What made you want to start boxing?

A friend of mine, Lewis Taylor has always done boxing and I just decided to go along with him one day and it just never stopped from there. I was 13 years old when I started training.

Did you have a boxing idol when you were younger?

I didn’t really follow boxing when I was younger, ever since I got interested in boxing Ricky Hatton has been my favourite fighter.

Did you do much amateur boxing?

I boxed amateur out of Brendan Ingle's gym and I had 12 bouts winning 10 of them.

How do you know the time is right to turn pro?

I have had a break from the sport when I started studying at university in Huddersfield. It was too far to travel to the Ingles gym so I was out of the sport for about a year in total. Then I met up with my new trainer Sean Thickett who trains fighters at Dennis Hobson’s gym close to me so I started to box again. I was sparring with some professionals and doing well so it felt right to turn over into the professional game.

Do you see a difference in the pro and amateur codes?

I feel the styles are totally different, in the amateur game because you only get three two-minute rounds so it's such a rush. On my debut I will be fighting six-twos so it will give me the chance to box a bit more.

Do you work full-time alongside boxing?

I’m studying Law full-time at university and boxing along side that. I go for a run every morning with Sean before Uni and then go to the gym in the evenings.

What sort of fighting style do you have?

I think one of my strengths is my good footwork. I learned that from when I was trained by the Ingles as an amateur, they also taught me a great defence. But now I am concentrating on adding a new dimension to my style, we are working on becoming a come forward pressure fighter too rather than being on the back foot all the time.

What ambitions/expectations do you have for your pro career?

I just want to do as well as I can really. I would love to be able to make a full-time career out of boxing. I’m just going to see how it goes and hope to keeping winning and then some doors will start to open for me.