WARRINGTON light middleweight Nathan ‘The Wire’ Wheatley has been given some high-profile backing ahead of his first outing in boxing’s paid ranks.

After 40 bouts as an amateur Padgate puncher Wheatley, aged 25, makes his debut at the Liverpool Olympia on Saturday, September 27 where he will tackle the experienced Dean Mitchell.

Wheatley has received support and encouragement from Warrington-based world middleweight title contender Martin Murray ahead of his maiden four-rounder.

The two train together at Oliver’s Gym, and Murray believes this is a good chance for his gym mate to push his career forward and get a reward for many hard years of sparring.

Murray said: “Nathan is dead keen and is a cracking lad, so just want him to do well.

“He has been coming a long time - he has done a lot of sparring with myself, Jamie Moore and Rocky Fielding over the years and been in with some good fighters.

“After putting in the hard work and going through all that pain, he deserves to do well.”

Wheatley will be fighting in Warrington Wolves’ primrose and blue colours and is hoping to get backing of the town.

“He's a good lad and he needs as much support as he can. As it is known in boxing, if you can sell tickets and get a good backing you will do well because you will always take your career that extra couple of steps further.

"He has been training hard and now he's ready so looking forward to getting going on it,” Murray said.

Tickets are available from Wheatley’s barbers and salon on Manchester Road, priced £30 and £50 (ringside).