Steve Swinburn set to face Karl Taylor

Steve Swinburn's first test as a professional boxer will be against an opponent 22 years his senior.

The 22-year-old former kickboxer will make his debut against Birmingham's Karl Taylor, 44, at the Lincolnshire Showground, a week on Saturday , February 13.

Taylor's career is into its 23rd year and has seen the 5ft 5ins journeyman take in a mammoth 156 fights, winning just 16. He has not won a fight since October 2003.

"I feel quite relaxed, although there is a bit of pressure on me as I am stepping out of my comfort zone," said Swinburn, who has signed for Sheffield-based promoter Dennis Hobson.

"There are going to be a lot of people watching and my sponsors will be there so I want to put on a really good performance."

Taylor's record, which includes 133 defeats – 33 by way of knockout – suggest that Swinburn will have the perfect opportunity to impress in front of his home support and go for a spectacular finish.

However, Swinburn is conscious of getting quality ring-time under his belt, during the fledgling stage of his career, and admitted that bringing his debut fight to an early conclusion has not dominated his thoughts.

"I am looking forward to it and I have done my homework on him, so I am feeling quite confident," said Swinburn.

"I am going to be fast in the ring, be in and out with my punches and hopefully be really sharp.

"But I have not thought about finishing the fight early and I don't want to go looking for it.

"I am going to go in there and box clever and if I see a weakness then I will try to exploit it.

"But I am not going in for an early finish.

"At this stage of my career, it would be nice to get some rounds under my belt."

Swinburn has had to adapt his ring style in order to make the switch from kickboxer to boxer but confessed the switch had gone without too many problem.

"I have found it quite easy to be honest," he said.

"In kickboxing, your stance tends to be upright and you bounce around a bit.

"In boxing, you have got to work more on your body and head movement and I have been working hard on putting it all together with my trainer Dave Walker and in sparring with Hayden Walker and Darryl Baptist from Bracebridge ABC.

"I have got a lot to thank them for."