THE career paths of boxing buddies Ross Cooksey and Liam Conroy have always been closely linked.

Two of Barrow ABC’s finest products, Cooksey and Conroy were born in the same year – 1992 – and came through the ranks of the Brook Street gym together.

Both enjoyed many successes at junior and amateur level under the guidance of head coach Jeff Moses and his team.

Since Conroy turned professional in 2012 Cooksey has been one of his biggest supporters, and now he has followed in his friend’s footsteps and is set for his debut next month.

And as fate would have it, Cooksey’s pro bow takes place in Manchester on Friday March 24 – a day before Conroy gets through the ropes in the same city.

Two of Moses’s ‘92 kids’ watching each other in action on the big stage and doing Barrow boxing proud.

While Cooksey will step through the ropes at Bowlers Exhibition Centre on the western fringes of the city near the Trafford Centre – 24 hours later Conroy will be lacing up his gloves in the more grandiose surroundings of the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena.

Cooksey will be up against an as-yet-unknown opponent in a four-round contest, while Conroy is scheduled for a ten-rounder against Tomi Tatham on the undercard of the huge Anthony Crolla-Jorge Linares II World Lightweight title showdown.

Conroy now boasts two pro belts after enjoying a brilliant 2016, when he lifted the British Challenge and WBC World Youth Silver light heavyweight crowns.

The BAE mechanical engineer is set for a very busy March when he is due to fight Steve Cooper for the northern area light heavyweight belt in Chorley on March 4 before taking on Tatham just three weeks later.

The 24-year-old already has bags of experience with 15 fights to his name, and Cooksey will benefit from plenty of advice from his mate.

Things are going well for Cooksey since he took the pro ticket with the Jimmy Egan’s Manchester Boxing Academy, the legendary Wythenshawe fight club and once home to a certain Tyson Fury.

Cooksey’s shift work as an apprentice welder in the shipyard is working out nicely, as it allows him to spend extended periods of time in Manchester under the guidance of coaches Shaun and Steve Egan.

“It’s going really well and I’m feeling good,” explained Cooksey.

“With me working four days on, four days off shifts, I’m going down there for two or three days at a time and then travelling home.

“The plan eventually is for me to go down there for four days.

“I’m learning new stuff all the time and picking up tips.

“The amateurs down there are of a high standard to work with and it’s going really well.”

While Conroy has been on a week-long training camp in Marbella under the guidance of his Preston-based trainer Johnney Roye, Cooksey has also benefited from some top-level sparring.

“I travelled over to Liverpool to spar a pro – Marcel Braithwaite – who is two and 0 in my weight division (super bantamweight) and who also boxed for England as an amateur,” he explained.

“We did eight rounds and it went well. I was happy because I said to my coach (Shaun Egan) at the end I think I won four rounds and he said he might have even given me five. That gave me a lot of confidence.”

Cooksey has worn Barrow ABC’s black and gold colours with pride for a decade and he still trains at Brook Street regulalrly, and Moses is proud of what he has achieved and confident he can have a successful pro career.

“I’ve seen a difference in him already, just in his manner,” said Moses.

“His diet has always good and he has always trained hard.

“He’ll get some good advice from Liam and he has got good contacts, and Egan’s gym is a good family gym, so even though he is away from home he is not going to be out of his comfort zone.

“His shift work has allowed him to go down there a lot and they have been introducing him to new stuff.

“He has come all the way through our ranks – from when he first walked through the door to winning a national schoolboy championship and all the way through the junior and amateur ranks, and now on to the pros. And we will still be here for him.”

Cooksey stressed he has moved on with his coach’s blessing.

“Jeff knows I’m only going down there to improve myself and learn new things,” he said.

“I still go to Brook Street when I’m in Barrow and I always will.”

Cooksey now cannot wait to show off his skills at Bowlers, where he has watched Conroy fight several times in the past.

“I like it there,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed it when Liam has boxed there so I’m quite happy making my debut there.”

“I spoke to Liam the other day and he said to me: ‘how are you feeling?’

“And I said to be honest if I can do eight rounds now at a good pace and we are seven weeks out, then I’m flying.

“But I’m not getting carried away. It’s about getting the right opponent at the right time.

“I have spoken to my coaches and management, and they said they are in no rush to push me on.

“They want me to get a few wins and take it from there.

“I’m aiming to fight at super bantamweight but if I struggle I will go featherweight.”

Cooksey is now back in tip-top shape after admitting to indulging more than usual over the festive period, because, for once, he was not down to fight in the annual South Lakeland Freemasons amateur show in Grange.

“I had quite a decent Christmas because I never had Grange,” he said.

“I thought I’d enjoy this year for the first time in a few years!

“But I’ve been dieting since new year and I’ve been losing quite a bit of weight and feeling good.”

Cooksey and Conroy are not the only Brook Street graduates on the pro circuit.

Another of the ‘92 kids’ – super-welterweight Callum Pearson – lost his one bout so far on points to William Warburton last year, while 30-year-old Ulverstonian Ryan Watson is in action at Bowlers this Friday when he takes on Joe Beeden in a lightweight contest.

Watson won his only other pro fight, beating Jason Nesbitt 10 months ago, but has been sidelined through injury for a period since.

l Promising Barrow ABC amateur Ethan Doyle put up a brave show in defeat to reigning champion Ramtin Musah in the England Boxing Youth Championships North West Region semi-finals in Manchester on Saturday.

l Anyone wanting tickets for Ross Cooksey’s pro debut can order them direct from the fighter on 07881 305058.