Matty Fagan believes he can bring another British title to back to Ellesmere Port as he aims to build on a promising first 12 months in professional boxing.
Fagan took his record to four wins from four contests with a comfortable points win over the tricky and experienced Youssef Al Hamidi last time out.
Fighting on the same show as friend and training partner Paul Butler, the 25-year-old comfortably out-pointed the Syrian journeyman.
“After the fight, the promoter Steve Wood came into the back and said it was the best performance he had seen against him,” said Fagan, who started out with Vauxhall Motors ABC.
“He has caused nightmares for people like John Murray and Anthony Crolla but I stuck to what I was told to do which was to out-box him because I had a bit of a nick from my last fight.”
Butler has established himself as one of the most exciting talents on the British boxing scene since turning pro in 2010.
He has won British and Commonwealth straps and now has his sights set on a shot at one of the world belts.
Like his friend, Fagan does not plan to waste any time and believes he will be ready to challenge for a title in another 12 months.
He said: “I’ve moved quite quickly and I’m already fighting six rounds but I’m hoping to step up next time and maybe have an eight rounder.
“I sat down before my last fight and said if I could put in a performance then by the end of the next year I could be looking at some sort of title shot and I definitely think I can win a title.
“It’s about building by taking little steps at the right time.”
Chester-born Fagan has signed with promoter Frank Warren and trains with Anthony Farnell in Manchester.
He has experimented with different weights in his first four fights but believes his long-term future will be at super-featherweight as he matures and becomes more disciplined.
“In my last fight I made lightweight for the first time and to be honest I was surprised at how easy it was,” he said.
“My discipline has not been great with my weight but I’m getting a bit older now.
“The plan is for me to drop down a few more pounds and go to super-featherweight and that division is not as strong as lightweight or light-welterweight.”
Before turning pro, Fagan worked on the production line at the Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port.
He hopes to be back in action on March 8 in Liverpool alongside his friend Butler and plans to have five fights in 2014 as he looks to fire himself into title contention.
“I just want to keep busy,” he said.
“A busy fighter is a happy fighter and a happy fighter is a successful fighter.”
