Calne's Connor Gray says turning professional has been a dream come true

Gray, who is from Calne, trains with Wiltshire coach Liam Lathbury in Chippenham and only made his debut in the sport last year but is already making an impression.

With three fights and three wins under his belt already, the 24-year-old is pencilled in for six rounds at super-lightweight on Neilson Boxing’s Fight Town card in Bracknell this Saturday.

“I used to fight a lot when I was younger, it’s the classic story, and I wanted to get good at it, so I started boxing,” he said.

“Boxing has kept me away from a lot of things, while everyone else was doing bad things I was in the gym training, it’s disciplined me.

“There’s not a lot to do in Calne so that’s another reason, ever since I started it has always been my dream to be a professional boxer.

“Being an active boxer means I am sharp all of the time too, it keeps my mindset in the right place too which is what I want.”

In his first contest Gray forced his opponent to pull out with a rib injury and the prospect says he felt as if he should have clocked up another stoppage last time out too.

Gray, who is technically tidy, also possesses power and the prospect says he has noticed his last few opponents have been unwilling to engage after feeling his strength.

“I feel like I am a big puncher, I’ve always been able to hit hard but I didn’t really see it until I turned professional,” he added.

“I didn’t have the mindset of a big puncher but now I know if I hit them, I’m going to hurt them and it’s given me confidence.

“You can see it in their eyes and they start to back off a bit afterwards. Sometimes when they get hit they go into survival mode.

“I don’t blame them to be honest because if they come and have a go they’re going to be put to sleep.”

Gray is set to take on 35-year-old Liam Richards from Melksham in the all-Wiltshire affair.

Richards has a professional record of 12-71-0 and is a heavy underdog for the bout.