ST Neots boxer Tommy Martin won his first professional fight at the weekend and is already attracting the attention of some of the sport’s biggest promoters.

The 18-year-old St Ives Boxing Club member turned pro in the summer and linked up with legendary London trainer Johnny Eames, who promoted this fight through his Trad TKO company.

Now the likes of Frank Warren are sniffing around the youngster after he knocked out his Lithuanian opponent in the third round at York Hall in Bethnal Green on Saturday.

“The Lithuanian was quite a good boy but Tommy hurt him with a body shot in the third and caught him going down,” said the boxer’s father Andrew, who was part of Martin’s 200-fan entourage in east London.

“He had all the old names of boxing in his corner – Johnny Eames, Jimmy Tibbs and Alex Wilkin – and he has Frank Warren and Box Nation interested in him now, but he’s only 18 and we don’t want to rush him.

“Johnny Eames only wants him to have three fights next season – but we are hoping to set something up for January.”

Martin, pictured right at the moment his opponent was counted out, topped the bill and knocked down Artur Saniuk in the first minute of the third round.

The boxer, who is now taking a week off from training, said: “It felt great to hit it off with a flying start, especially in front of such a large crowd. I never imagined I would have the support I had on the night. It was way more than I could have ever asked for.

“I thought I had him in the second round a few times but somehow he managed to see it to the end of the bell, so I come straight out in the third with a load of confidence.

“I am still pinching myself to make sure I’m not in a dream. All those years of training and fighting as an amateur are finally paying off.

“I even broke down in the ring because I was so overwhelmed with how everything happened. Life just feels like it’s going 100 miles per hour at the moment – I’m loving every second of it.”

Meanwhile, St Ives Boxing Club’s Martin Rooney was also in action last weekend, against fellow former schoolboy champion Henri Potter in Great Yarmouth.

Potter won the bout by a majority decision but 15-year-old Rooney is hoping to get his own back this Saturday when the two fighters meet again at the club’s latest show at the Corn Exchange in St Ives.

The show will also feature St Ives’ boxers Ryan Robinson, Matt Cable, Dean Pepper and Bradley Smith, plus other up and coming stars.

Doors open at 7pm with the boxing starting at 8pm. Tickets are �15 and will be available on the door.