OLYMPIC fever may be sweeping the country but for Iain Weaver, the Greatest Show on Earth must play second fiddle to his own sporting preparations.
The Ferndown boxer turned professional in May after narrowly missing out on selection for London 2012 in the lightweight class.
Having signed with promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport earlier this month, the 22-year-old is preparing for his debut fight at super-featherweight at London’s Alexandra Palace on September 8.
The contest will feature on the undercard of Darren Barker and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Tony Bellew and Weaver admits he is counting the days until his debut.
“I’m not watching the Olympics ,” said the focused fighter, who won silver at the 2010 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Moscow in 2010.
“I’ll watch some of the fights on the TV and cheer on the other British lads, but I won’t have time for much else if I’m going to be ready for my first pro fight.
“It’s a new challenge for me after the amateurs and I can’t wait to get started.”
Weaver – who benefits from being a member of the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes programme – is now in the company of some of the cream of British boxing at Matchroom Sport including champions Barker, Carl Froch and Kell Brook, and he is keen to stress he has similar ambitions.
He added: “I’ve gone with the best promoter in the country. Now it’s just down to me to do the business.”
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