YORK boxing prospect Michael Fafera has teamed up with Leeds-based Padraic McDonagh as his new trainer.

Fafera had previously been trained by Stephen Melton, with the pair having worked together since Fafera’s time in unlicensed boxing and since his move to the professionals in September 2018.

After an amicable split between the pair, Fafera has linked up with McDonagh, who is based at the Golden Team Gym in Leeds.

McDonagh currently trains Fafera’s managerial stable-mate Mick Learmonth, with the cruiserweight, like Fafera, being guided by Leeds’ Mark Bateson.

The Leeds-based trainer has previously worked with former British super-lightweight champion Tyrone Nurse and ex-world title challenging light heavyweight Bob Ajisafe.

He is also involved in the coaching set-ups of super-bantamweight Jack Bateson and UFC lightweight Marc Diakiese.

Fafera had been scheduled to fight for the first time this year in early April, though that contest was cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic which has brought sport across the country to a standstill.

The light-heavyweight, who has won all of his six professional bouts to date, was most recently in action during a four-round points win over Latvia’s Raimonds Sniedze in November.