Boxer Mason Payne made a winning start to his professional career after signing for promoter Frank Warren.

Payne, from Maidstone, beat John Mosquera over four rounds at York Hall in Bethnal Green on Saturday.

The former Westree amateur, who only turned 20 in July, received big backing from his home town.

He was determined to put on a show and didn’t disappoint.

“I sold 250 tickets and, I couldn’t believe it, the crowd was absolutely bouncing,” said Payne, who fights at super-welterweight.

“I had no nerves at all until I walked into the little bit before the ring walk and I saw everyone and they saw me and started screaming.

“It was crazy. It didn’t feel real if I’m honest. It felt like I was in a dream.”

Payne, a two-time national amateur champion, won all four rounds against Mosquera (5-16), celebrating the verdict with a backflip.

He said: “I had a tough opponent but he didn’t really hit me.

“It was a dominant win, it was explosive and I did a little bit of showboating in there.

“I was having fun, I was pleasing the crowd and I gave a little backflip at the end.

“I like to think I’m a bit of everything really. I call myself a box-fighter.

“I box on the back foot, I can come on the front foot, I like to have a little bit of a laugh in there, a bit of showboating.

“I feel like I’m a Jack of all trades at the moment.”

Payne, who went to Valley Park School in Maidstone, took up boxing aged 11 at Westree.

That’s where he met fellow Maidstone boxers Sam and Sean Noakes and he’s followed the brothers into Warren’s Queensberry Promotions stable, signing a five-year deal.

Sam holds British, European and Commonwealth titles at lightweight, while Sean recently won the English welterweight crown.

Payne, who later joined Ropes and Glory ABC in Chatham, said: “Frank Warren’s the best about, isn’t he?

“It’s been nice having Sam and Sean to talk to because I looked up to them from a young age and now I’m on the same platform.

“I’m just trying to follow in their footsteps. They’re good role models.

“They’ve been a big part of everything I’ve done. If I have any questions about what I should do, I always talk to them.

“There’s something in the water in Maidstone because all us boys can dig. That’s one thing we’ve all got.

“Frank knew I was decent, he’s been looking at me for a while. My manager’s contract is three years and I’ve got five years with Queensberry and Frank Warren.

“I’m tied in for a long time, which is good.

“I know I’m with a good promoter for a long while and hopefully after a few years I’ll be fighting for titles.”