ST Neots teenager Tommy Martin hopes to be matched with a tough opponent in London next month.

Martin plans to step up a level to six-round bouts in just his fourth professional fight in Bethnal Green on Saturday, July 27.

He came through a good test in March when he outpointed hard-as-nails boxer Andrew Harris and the 19 year-old lightweight now says: “I want tough fights. People expect me to have whitewashes at this stage of my career, but I don’t want that and I don’t think the fans want to see that either. I want to keep pushing forward, getting rounds under my belt and the better the fighters I beat now, the quicker I will get into title contention. By the time I’m 21, I want to be fighting for titles.”

Martin’s boxing ambitions have been handed a massive boost by sponsors Autovia. The Peterborough-based company are sponsoring him and Martin said: “It’s a massive help. I can box two or three times every day without having to worry about work. I can concentrate on boxing full time.”

Martin has had top-class sparring at manager Johnny Eames’s gym in Canning Town with unbeaten prospects such as Billy Morgan – and he plans to stay in the gym over the summer.

The professional boxing season takes a break in August but Martin said: “I will still be going to the gym at least three times every week throughout the summer.

“I want to be prepared for the new season when it starts in September. It’s going to be a big season for me.”

Martin has proved to be popular with fights fans and is expected to take around 250 supporters to Bethnal Green. A bus from St Neots is available for £10 return and tickets for the fight are available from 07809 246986 and www.tommydagunmartin.co.uk