BOXER Hamzah Butt will make his professional debut next month.

The Shoebury based 25-year-old will take on the experienced Alexander Fonz at York Hall on Saturday June 17.

And Butt has improved significantly since first taking up the sport at school so he would have more chance of going on holiday.

“My mum and dad weren’t born in this country and we didn’t really have a lot of money when I was growing up,” said Butt.

“Any money they had they spent on books and things for school.

“I never had a holiday and it didn’t bother me until secondary school when my mates would be talking about where they would go in the summer holidays.

“I had a mate who boxed and he went everywhere doing it back then.

“I thought if I did boxing then I might get to do the same so I started going along as well.

“I always just thought if you got really good you get to go on holiday and I just started to train really hard.

“It’s all gone on from there.”

Butt has impressed on the amateur stage but will be making a step up in to the professional ranks.

And he has chosen an experienced first opponent.

“He’s a very, very tough journeyman,” said Butt.

“He’s had 150 pro fights and he’s only been stopped eight times but I’m going to make it nine.

“It’s my first pro but I couldn’t even tell you how many amateur fights I’ve had so I’ve got experience as well.”

However next month’s bout will be Butt’s biggest so far.

And he is pleased with how his preparations have been going.

“Training is going really, really well,” said Butt, a former King Edmund School pupil.

“I’ve been training with Billy Whitrod who is my main trainer from the Matchroom Gym.

“He’s helped Joe Cordina, Joe Richards and people like that so I’m in good hands.

“I’m training at the TW1 Boxing Gym in Ongar and it couldn’t be going any better right now.”

Butt will be looking to keep that going in the build up to fight night.

And he wants the bout to be the start of something special.

“I’d love to be a household name one day,” said Butt.

“I’m fighting on the British Title Eliminator card and I’d love to fight for a British title myself.

“I’d love to win a WBC belt and be ranked.

“I’d also love to fight the best of the British boys.

“It’s one fight at a time but further down the line obviously you dream of world titles.

“I could definitely go on holiday then!”