A young boxer who walked into Rumbles Boxing Academy for “something to do” hasn’t looked back.

Zach Phee, from Sittingbourne, first went to the gym aged 12.

He ended up turning pro at 18 and has five straight wins behind him as he approaches his 20th birthday this month.

“I walked into the gym here and never looked back,” said Phee, a former pupil at Borden Grammar School.

“I was just looking for something to do, to be honest with you. I never knew I’d be good at it.

“I had a few gym shows and my first amateur bout and then fought as an amateur, won a national title and turned pro.

“Looking at my style, I’ve got more of a professional style anyway, so I always thought it would suit me better.

“Once I turned 18, it was one of those, I could turn pro now or wait another two years and I just thought, ‘I’ll do it now’.

“I felt more at home as a pro than an amateur.

“You take the head guard off, the gloves get smaller, it’s different, but I really prefer it.

“I think every single performance has got better.”

Phee, whose dad is from Singapore, made his debut in the bantamweight division in June last year.

Working with trainers Charlie and Billy Rumbol, he went from strength to strength in reeling off five successive wins.

A back injury in training stopped him fighting in September but he’s recovering nicely and hopes to box again early next year.

He’s also lucky enough to have secured a link-up with Mayfair-based personal trainer Henry Barratt, whose celebrity clients include actress Kate Beckinsale.

That was arranged through Rumbles PR man Andrew Dawes and includes sponsorship from Barratt, who runs One: Personal Training in the capital.

Phee hopes to be going places in his career but has stressed there is no rush.

He wants to take his time and do things properly.

“I’m just going to fight a few more journeymen, keep building and go for a title sometime next year,” said Phee.

“I’m only 19 so there’s no need to rush, I don’t want to push too quickly.

“I could go and reach the top right of what I can do now but it leaves you in a position where you’re kind of stuck and everything else ends up looking like a step back.

“As long as I’m learning and improving, I’ll just keep going the way I am, take it slowly and when the time’s right, I’ll step up.”