Blackpool boxer Jackson Hulme preparing to make professional bow

Hulme makes his professional debut on August 25

Lytham's Scotty Cardle seals winning return to the ring with points victory

Jackson Hulme makes his competitive bow on Saturday, August 25, when he fights an as yet unnamed opponent at Wythenshawe Forum in Manchester.

The 22-year-old, managed by Lytham’s Scotty Cardle and trained by former Blackpool pro Matty Ellis, told The Gazette the sky’s the limit for his career.

Hulme pictured as a youngster with former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury

“I’m feeling excited. I just want the fight to happen now,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.

“I want to get that winning streak going and hopefully get a knockout.

“I want to do something and they always say dream big, so if I can become the first world champion from Blackpool that will be amazing achievement.

“Obviously I don’t want to run before I can walk but picking up those wins and doing it in style is what I want to do.”

Hulme, who fought for Kingscote and Kirkham’s boxing clubs as an amateur, initially set his sights on becoming a footballer but believes he made the right choice.

“My first love was initially football but that was cut short as I struggled with injuries.” he added.

“I’ve been on trials with a number of clubs but boxing is always something that has been there with me.

“I played at AFC Fylde, Blackpool Wren Rovers and I was at the school of excellence at Manchester United and Liverpool as a kid.

“In the past couple of years I’ve even had trials with Nottingham Forest and Dagenham & Redbridge.

“But to be honest I was getting a bit fed up of football and this is a great opportunity to be a professional athlete.”

One of Hulme’s main inspirations for getting into boxing is to provide for his family.

He added: “If I can do well with this, then it will be something I can be proud of. I want to make my family proud too.

“I’m very close to my family and they grew up with nothing. They came from a council estate.

“My main motivation is my dad .He works hard, he grafts hard, as my mum does too. They mean a lot to me and I want to do well for them.”

As well as his family, another source of inspiration for Hulme is Matty Ellis’ father Frank, a stalwart of the boxing scene in Blackpool who sadly passed away last year.

Hulme will pay tribute to Frank by including his name on his shorts.

To book tickets to Hulme’s first fight, you can contact his management team on 07535 621022.