TWO Barrow Amateur Boxing Club products are joining the professional ranks.

Ryan Watson, from Marton near Ulverston, and Callum Pearson, of Barrow, have joined the stable of former top professional Kieran Farrell after impressing during training stints at his People’s Gym in Heywood, Greater Manchester.

Watson takes his first step in the ring as a pro on St George’s Day when he competes in a four-rounder at the Macron Stadium, Bolton, against an as yet unnamed opponent in the light welterweight division.

It is a dream come true for the 29-year-old, who returned to the ring a couple of years ago after setting up his business as a tree surgeon.

“It will be my debut, I can’t wait. All my family are going,” he said.

“I had a couple of years out and I returned to it maybe a year ago.

“I’ve had a few fights, I won my first fight at Accrington, I beat an unbeaten lad, and then I had fight on a show at the Coronation Hall and I knocked a lad out in the first round, and then I turned professional with Kieran after that.”

The orthodox fighter said of his decision to take up the pro ticket: “It was a no-brainer. It was a chance in a lifetime especially with going professional under Kieran Farrell, he was a top pro and is a really good trainer. It was unbelievable to be asked and it is a great opportunity really.”

Watson makes regular trips to Manchester to continue his boxing education and he has sparred against some top opponents including current British super-lightweight champ Tyrone Nurse.

The fighter expects to be matched up soon for his professional debut, and he said: “I have been training really hard, I have been sparring with a lot of unbeaten pros and I have sparred with the current British champ, Tyrone Nurse, that was really good sparring.

“I am training every day, I only have Sunday off. I train twice a day. I run early in the morning and then I train down at Kieran’s.”

Watson wants to go the distance in his rank and added: “I have been sparring all these unbeaten pros and have been holding my own so I will give it my all and see where it leads.”

Farrell, who has in the past been a guest at Barrow ABC events, had a brilliant professional record racking up 14 successive wins at lightweight before his ring career was cruelly cut short when he suffered a brain injury after a thrilling 10-round points loss – his first professional defeat – to current World WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla in Manchester in 2012.

Now a trainer and manager, Farrell is looking to match up welterweight Pearson at the Middleton Arena, Manchester, in June.

He said: “Ryan turned pro in December 2015 and we are just awaiting confirmation of his licence to come through, before proceeding on for his medicals. Callum Pearson came to the gym in February 2016. He is up in front of the British Boxing Board of Control on April 3.”

He added: “Both lads can carve their futures to whatever they want to make of them.”

Farrell is hoping to put on a professional show at either the Abbey House Hotel, Barrow, or Ulverston’s Coronation Hall later this year when both Watson and Pearson are expected to be on the card.

The former England amateur has a great admiration for Jeff Moses, who runs Barrow ABC and coached current British Challenge Light Heavyweight champion Liam Conroy, as well at Watson and Pearson.

Farrell said: “I have known Jeff since I was an amateur myself and he is a good trainer, making champions after champions. It is a great testament to himself and Barrow boxing club for bringing these lads through. He is a really good coach.”

l If anyone wants to buy tickets for Watson’s fight, on April 23, or would like to sponsor him he can be contacted on 07988714323.