PADDY Fitzpatrick has likened Garvey Kelly to rising super-middleweight star Callum Smith as he prepares to turn professional.

The 27-year-old from Swindon set to enter the paid ranks in October under Fitzpatrick’s guidance.

And the trainer feels that Kelly, who will be fighting in the welterweight division, has a style similar to the English super-middleweight champion.

“Garvey is like Callum Smith in that they are both very smooth fighters, they work the body and they are patient,” Fitzpatrick told the Advertiser. “Garvey has been with me for six years and his style is suited to the pros, he’s an old school fighter - he is beautiful.”

Like another of Fitzpatrick’s charges - Luke Watkins - who is turning professional this autumn, Kelly will be managed by George Groves.

And the trainer is delighted that his boxers are getting this opportunity.

“George is in a nice position,” Fitzpatrick said. “He is working hard and it is great that he is able to create these opportunities for the guys that other people don’t get.”

With Watkins making his debut on the undercard of Groves’ clash with Christopher Febrasse on September 20 at Wembley Arena, Fitzpatrick says that Kelly’s bow in the paid ranks will come the following month.

“The aim is for Garvey to make his debut in October here or in Denmark,” Fitzpatrick said. “Both of them will start off doing six rounds.

“They spar eight to 10 three-minute rounds every day in the gym with a 30 second break, so six rounds is not going to be a problem - their bodies are already used to it.”

Fitzpatrick says that both men have the talent to go a long way in the paid ranks, but stopped short of giving any predictions on what they can achieve.

“Both Luke and Garvey have the talent to go a long, now we just have to see how far they can go,” he said.

“I have been all around the world and I have seen talented boxers, but you never hear of them.

“They have the talent, because I have seen it, so there must be something else missing.”