Steve Swinburn poised to make his professional boxing debut

Experienced Lincoln heavyweight Lee Swaby says "hopes are high" that friend and fellow kickboxing convert Steve Swinburn will embark on a spectacular boxing career – starting with a debut victory on Saturday.

The 22-year-old competes on Swaby's "My Bloody Valentine" show at the Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground, against Karl Taylor, an opponent 22 years his senior.

Swinburn was assessed three weeks ago as part of the procedure to licence new boxers and Swaby is "proud" of how the former martial artist performed.

"I was sat with Steve Ray, the British Boxing Board of Control chief inspector for the central area, and he said that Steve would be an asset to British boxing," said Swaby.

"I was very proud of him. He was sparring six, two-minute rounds with John Fewkes, who has won the central area light-welterweight title.

"I have great hopes for Steve. To mix it with a British title contender seems to tell us where he can go in boxing."

For more on this story see today's Lincolnshire Echo.