RENFREW boxer Callen McAulay has turned professional after signing with St Andrew’s Sporting Club last week writes David Brockett.

The 19-year-old’s first professional bout is scheduled to take place at Paisley’s Lagoon Centre on Saturday September 9.

The former Trinity High pupil, whose opponent is yet to be confirmed, is hoping to quickly build up a good record and aim for titles.

He said: “I’ve just turned 19 which is very young to be turning professional, so there’s no real rush for me.

“I’m hoping to just take it slowly and build up a good record. I feel like I could progress on to Scottish titles quite fast.”

But the youngster doesn’t want to stop there. McAulay, who boxes at Greenock Boxing Club and was previously a member at Renfrewshire ABC, is hoping to go as far as he can in the sport.

He said: “Looking further down the line I think I can progress from there to take on British and eventually world titles.”

McAulay took the professional route after a strong career as an amateur. But his hopes of representing Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games were dashed after he suffered a broken hand.

He added: “I’ve known I was going to be turning pro for a while now. I was on the Institute of Sport Scotland with the Boxing Scotland team.

“But I broke my hand at the start of the year and all the qualification for the Games were at the start of this year and I wasn’t able to participate in them.

“I was the only boxer at my weight on the programme, so I do feel had it not been for that injury I could’ve been at the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

“With the games cycle only being every four years, we felt it would be best to pursue turning professional now.”