Maidstone boxer Sean Noakes has followed in brother Sam’s footsteps by turning professional.

Noakes has signed a four-year deal with Frank Warren - the same promoter as Sam - and will make his debut at the iconic York Hall in Bethnal Green next Friday (May 20).

The pair also share the same manager - Francis Warren, son of Frank - but that’s where the similarities end.

“We’re completely different fighters,” said Sean, 26, who will launch his pro career with a four-round welterweight contest.

“The power’s still there, it’s just I box a little more.

“Sam comes forward and walks through everything, whereas I move my head, I counter-punch, I’ve got fast hands.

“The way he boxes wouldn’t work well for me and the way I box wouldn’t work well for him.

“He uses the tools he’s got to make the best of his ability and so do I.

“Everyone’s shocked when they see how different we are.

“It’s funny it’s like that because we’re joined at the hip.

“We’ve always been together, we always hang around, we go on holiday together just me and him, but, stylistically, we are so different.”

Sean is two years older than Sam, who has made a storming start in the pro ranks, winning all nine of his bouts by stoppage and capturing the WBC international silver lightweight title.

They came through the ranks at Westree ABC but Sean is making up for lost time.

“I had five years out of the ring,” he said. “I turned 18 and fell out of love with boxing, I went out being stupid with my mates, drinking and that, but my brother made me fall back in love with it.

“I watched him win his second national title and I was like, ‘I can beat these boys, I’m better than them’.

“I came back and my first tournament, I won it.

“Getting the weight off was the thing but we did it right, my mum did my nutrition and I lost about 20 kilos to come back, which is just over three stone.

“I’m making the weight so comfortably now I might even drop down to super-lightweight.

“I’m making up for lost time and it’s going quite well.”

Noakes finished his amateur career by reaching the ABA quarter-finals.

It’s the right time to turn pro and he’s excited to be fighting at York Hall at the start of what he hopes will be a successful time in the paid ranks.

“It’s nice be at York Hall first, there’s so much history at that place,” said Noakes, whose provisional opponent Naeem Ali is subject to change.

“The first goal is to finish the first couple of years undefeated, with a good knockout ratio, and then look forward to titles.

“We always bring a good crowd, the people of Maidstone get behind us, which is always nice.

“It’s a good little town and there must be something in the water because there’s some good fighters coming from the area.”

Tickets for the York Hall show are on sale, priced £50.

To book, contact Sean Noakes via Facebook (search Sean Noakes) or Instagram using the handle @seannoakes.