YORK boxing legend Henry Wharton has added another professional fighter to his table after the announcement that Rob Magill will move into the paid ranks.

Magill, who is likely to box at middleweight (160lbs) or potentially light-middleweight (154bs), becomes the fifth boxer from Wharton’s stable to turn pro after George Davey, Mitchell Barton, Hughie Wilson and Rafal Benka.

Having come through the amateur ranks at Henry’s Gym in Acomb, the three-time Yorkshire champion Magill had been hopeful of winning a national title this year.

However, the coronavirus pandemic put to that ambition, with lockdown meaning that his long-held goal of turning pro came quicker than he expected.

“It was all about timing really,” said Magill.

“I was always planning on going pro, I just didn’t know when.

“In the amateurs, I got to a few semi-finals in the nationals and wanted to win it in 2020, but coronavirus happened.

“I made my decision from there to turn pro.

The 29-year-old’s career will be guided by Wharton and Harrogate-based manager Kevin Maree under his Maree Boxing banner.