CHESTER-BORN professional boxer Wycombe King is focussed on proving he's a cut above the rest as he eyes up another win in his quest to become British champion.

The ambitious light heavyweight, who currently does weekend shifts as a barber, is preparing to face Spanish fighter Nathan Junor at Oldham Leisure Centre on October 2.

The 28-year-old from Saltney – a former national champion at amateur level – has two wins from two bouts since turning professional and is part of promoter Kevin Maree's stable.

Wycombe, a former St David's High School student, made his victorious debut in September 2019 but then endured a frustrating period out of the ring as a result of a serious bicep injury and the impact of the Covid pandemic on the sport.

He returned to action in June and is now looking to make up for lost time by targeting three fights before the end of the year.

Speaking to The Standard ahead of his upcoming bout, Wycombe said: "Making my professional debut was an amazing feeling. I was nervous and excited. Then in my second fight in June I felt more comfortable.

"I was up against a tough customer with 125 fights under his belt. I wasn't able to stop him in four rounds – but if it had been six I probably would have.

“There’s a few videos online of my next opponent so I’ll be doing my film study and looking at how he boxes.

"My aim is to be the best – but I also want to be entertaining and exciting. Within two to three years I'd like to be British champion.

"Of course, like anyone else starting out in this game, I want to go on and eventually be a world champion."

Although his lack of ring time during the pandemic was hugely frustrating during what is an important period in his development as a professional fighter, Wycombe was also able to use the time to spar with the likes of Callum Smith (pictured below), Lyndon Arthur, Jack Cullen, Diego Costa and Brad Rea.

Chester and District Standard:

"It was massively frustrating for me at the time", he said. "I got injured in 2019 and was out for four months. Then once I'd healed I did two to three weeks of training and then that it was it for 18 months.

"You're still training but it's only the fighters with the big promotional deals that were able to fight during this period. The rest of us don't get any work.

"It was tough. I'm not going to lie there were times when I fell out of love with it. What kept me going? Faith and belief in myself."

Wycombe, who is coached by Paulino da Silva and trains at his gym, Paulino Boxing Club in Manchester, realises that now is a crucial period in his fledgling career.

He said: "When you turn professional it's all about building your career. The pace slows down. As an amateur you fight local lads in local clubs. These are very tough kids. It's very competitive – a lot of fights are 50/50.

"You do three three-minute rounds. Then when you turn professional you start with four three-minute rounds, then six, eight and so on.

"You're learning your spars and the process is more about building a fighter. Those are the skills you rely on when you get to 10, 15 fights. It's the most important time.

"If you're going to do anything in this game it needs to happen now."

Although a successful boxing career is foremost in his mind, Wycombe enjoys his shifts at Jade Rogers in Connah's Quay and has aspirations of running his own business when he eventually hangs up his gloves.

He explained: "When I'm not fighting and training I work as a barber at the weekend. I enjoy it, it's creative in its own right. It's also therapeutic.

"My plan was always to secure enough sponsorship and means to focus full time on boxing. But it's a short career so I wanted something to go into after.

"One day I'd like to run my own shop."