A KEIGHLEY boxer is aiming to put his town on the map when he makes his professional debut tonight on a televised card.

Ibrahim Nadim will join the pro ranks on Matchroom's JDNXTGEN card at York Hall, either appearing on Sky Sports or their Facebook channel.

The successful amateur, who won a England Boxing National Amateur Championship in April, decided to turn over after determining that Paris 2024 was too far in the future.

Nadim was victorious in the featherweight division fighting out of the Bury ABC under trainer Mick Jelly, famous for training Amir Khan and Scott Quigg before they gained national fame.

The 20-year-old has been getting ready for his first bout in London at Ricky Hatton's gym in Hyde for the last eight months after coming into contact with the former world champion through Khan's dad Shah.

Hatton approached agent Paul Speak to manage the featherweight's career for the foreseeable future.

Speak is confident that his young fighter has what it takes to make a real name for himself and make the town of his birth a household name.

He said: "His (Nadim's) style is going to be slightly different but he is learning to plant his feet and get more power into his shots.

"He is fast, exciting, got a really good boxing brain and is a hungry boxer.

"He has got a poker face and loves to get into his rhythm to box.

"They (Hatton and Nadim) gelled almost straight away, they were then looking for a manager and asked me.

"He has sparred Zelfa Barrett, who is the commonwealth featherweight champion and former British champion Sam Bowen.

"He has been in with a lot of good amateurs and novice professionals who he has held his own against.

"Keighley should be proud of him because I think he is going to put Keighley on the map.

"With his talent he can go all the way, anybody who watches him can tell straight away he has skill, there is no reason why he cant go all the way and win titles."

Speak added: "I approached (Matchroom boss) Eddie Hearn and sent him some videos, he liked what he saw so he is making his debut on the NXTGEN show with a lot of the other young prospects.

"We met Eddie a few times and he agreed to give him his pro debut in London and hopefully another four fights next year.

"If it is not on TV they usually film it on Facebook so people will be able to watch him."

Nadim says he has taken huge inspiration from Khan's exploits, winning a silver in the 2004 Olympics and a world title only five years later, as he aims to somewhat replicate such achievements.

The featherweight also hopes he can gain success with cousin Muhammad Ali, who recently gained his professional license after being given a two-year drug ban in the amateurs back in 2017.

Speaking on how he feels about his maiden pro contest on the undercard of Richard Riakporhe against Jack Massey for the British Cruiserweight title, Nadim said: "I just can’t wait to get going now and make my debut in London.

"The amateurs gave me great experience which I can now use in the pro ranks along with the help of my trainer who has been there and done it.

"Amir Khan has been a real inspiration in the Asian community, encouraging more people to box.

"He (Ali) can go on and become a world champion, hopefully I can pick up some titles too."