Oli Edwards is the latest Kent boxer to win his professional licence and the 19-year-old middleweight from Sheerness is determined to make an impact in his debut bout on December 5 at York Hall.

He said: “I’m targeting the Southern Area title to start with and then the English. If we get to that stage, we could then take it worldwide.

“I’m young and some people say I’m too young but I believe in myself. There have been world champions who have started out at 19 before."

Edwards’ father, Tony, once fought Nigel Benn during his Army days while Askew – head coach at the Invicta Gym – has a long history of boxing in the family.

Edwards said: “Ray trained my father and now he is training me. I’m up at 4am most days to train and it’s intensive stuff. I’m putting a lot of hard work in.

"I’m also getting great support from my mum, Karen, and girlfriend Sophie Louise Elphick, along with fellow Sheerness pro Gavin Tait, who I spar with.”

Edwards, who says he is a nice guy outside the ring, certainly produces ‘fireworks’ in it. During his amateur days, he won six of his seven bouts, five by way of stoppage. A spell in kickboxing saw him claim five KOs from 10 fights.

He added: “The next 12 weeks will be hard but we’ll see how it goes. I can’t wait.”