Harvey Dykes is ready for things to heat up after an impressive professional debut at the Brighton Centre.
The Whitehawk heavyweight earned a four-round points decision over Erik Nazaryan from Georgia in a televised late night bout to wrap up the Eubank v Schwarzkopf bill.
Roared on by noisy support, Dykes overcame a nervy start to impress on his big night.
His next date is in the Cayman Islands on December 8 against an opponent who is unbeaten in three fights.
Dykes’ trainer Luke Hewett was delighted with Friday’s workout.
He said: “Harvey was a bit nervous in the first round.
“He was so hyped to get in there and he was so tight in the changing rooms and I think it all crashed down on him and the nerves kicked in - but he overcame that.
“He composed himself and out-boxed him for the next three rounds.
“The kid hardly laid a glove on him for the next three rounds.”
Don Charles was also in Dykes’ corner and Hewett said: “He rated it a 9/10 performance.”
It was Dykes’ first fight in nearly 18 months and he was kept waiting for his big moment having initially expected to be third or fourth on.
Hewett said: “When they realised how many tickets he sold and how popular he is, they told us we would be on a live TV slot at 11pm.
“He was absolutely buzzing after the fight.
“He knows he has a few things to work on but, for a professional debut, even the TV commentators said how skilful he looked and how he has changed so much from the amateurs.
“He is skilful and is more powerful now.”
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