NEWLY-turned professional boxer Will Harrison is hoping to make his debut in the early summer.

Harrison announced he had signed an advisory deal with management giants MTK Global, as part of their MTK Leeds base, last month, having previously won a Yorkshire title while representing the Jorvik Boxing Club.

Professional boxing has been put on hold by the British Boxing Board of Control this month, amid the surge in coronavirus cases and the third national lockdown.

However, Harrison says that he’s still hopeful of being able to fight soon, perhaps as soon as the summer, given that MTK have still been running shows behind closed doors throughout last year.

“I’d like to be fighting around the summer, potentially in the early summer,” said the 23-year-old.

“I’ve got a few medicals still to do, but hopefully that’ll be sorted in the next month or two.

“Then, it’s about starting a proper training camp and looking to get out in the summer and get out as much as I can and look to gain as much experience as possible.”

Many boxers have bemoaned the lack of a next fight date making it difficult to have the motivation to train at full intensity.

Harrison has no such complaints though and is looking to use this period in the gym to work on perfecting the technique and style required in the paid ranks.

“There is that uncertainty but we’re all in the same boat of learning the craft because the pros is different from the amateurs,” added Harrison.

“So, there’s lots of stuff that we can improve on and we know that the good thing about MTK is that there is a (rough) date there.

“It’s hard for a lot of boxers who are on the small hall shows and because they don’t know when it could be (that they are fighting next).

“But with MTK they’ve got a good idea that we will be getting out this year.

“That’s a good goal in itself, whether that’s in a few months or longer.”

Harrison’s training has been boosted by some top sparring as part of the MTK Leeds set-up, having shared rounds with the IBF featherweight champion and 126lb world number one Josh Warrington.

“That was brilliant,” reflected Harrison.

“We did six rounds open sparring and then did another five rounds a few days later which was a bit more of a technical sparring, working on different shots, which helped us both out.

“That has benefitted me massively.

“Just being able to be in the gym when he’s sparring other lads and see how he commands the ring and moves and what he does in different situations, that’s brilliant to watch as well.”

As well as training at MTK Leeds, Harrison will also be doing sessions with York-based manager Glenn Banks, who also guides the career of York featherweight Cam Shaw.

The light-welterweight is hopeful that the range of trainers will

“I won’t be working with Gary (Kelly, amateur coach) anymore, but I’ll still be working with Glenn as well as Sean (O’Hagan) and Wayne Woods in Leeds,” Harrison explained.

“There is a good stable at all the gyms. There’s world champions in Warrington and there’s a few other lads who are all coming through the pro ranks at the same time, all helping each other out. It’s nice to have the mix of both.”