BOLTON boxer Jack Flatley has turned professional and will make his debut in October.

The 20-year-old super middleweight has shone in the amateur ranks and aims to be just as big a hit in the paid game.

He will be on show for the first time as a pro at Manchester's Phones 4U Arena on Saturday, October 10, when he fights Gloucestershire opponent Lewis van Poetsch.

Flatley is hoping he can have success in the future at least on a par with what he has had as an amateur.

This year he took the silver medal in the ABA Championships, the most prestigious amateur national competition.

That was the best any Bolton boxer has ever achieved in the ABAs, eclipsing even Amir Khan.

Flatley, who trains under the watchful eye of Alex Matvienko at Elite Gym in Halliwell, took the national selectors' eye with his stunning performance in which he beat numbers two and three in the country and lost narrowly to the number one.

He then went on to win an England vest and now he has achieved all he wants to in the unpaid ranks, he is looking to show what he can do as a pro.

"I've had 77 amateur fights but I've always wanted to be a pro," said the ex-Harper Green High School pupil.

"It's all I've thought about since I was 10.

"I watched The Contender on TV and it was the same time as the Olympics and I thought I'd have a go at it.

"I went to Bolton Lads and Girls Club at first then New Bury and Farnworth for about five years, then Gloves for two years and then Halliwell ABC for the last two years."

Halliwell ABC is the amateur section of Elite.

"I'm the sort of fighter who can adapt to anyone's style and I keep my distance well," he said.

"I've sparred with Martin Murray who has fought for world titles, and Luke Blackledge who trains at the same gym as me and is the Commonwealth champion, so I know what I have to do.

"Alex is a good pro trainer and if he thinks I'm ready then I'm ready. I want to see what I can do."

Jack isn't the only Flatley impressing on the local boxing scene at present.

His brother Kieran, aged 15, is also a member at Halliwell ABC and is showing promise.

"He's had about 14 fights and he's probably better than I was at that age," said Jack.

"He does a lot of sparring with the older lads so he's a strong lad.

"I was nearly the first boxer from Bolton to win the ABAs and I think Kieran can do it."

Matvienko, who also has Blackledge in action on the same bill at Flatley when he defends the Commonwealth title he won in April, is in no doubt his young charge has what it takes to make it in the professional world.

"Jack is more than ready to turn pro," he said.

"He's beaten the best in the country and beat the Commonwealth champion which shows he can hold his own against these guys.

"You can't keep him out of the gym. He's done everything he wants to do as an amateur.

"Everyone knows who he is and he wants to make a big impact."

Poetsch has lost 22 of his 26 career fights.