LUKE Watkins may not have thrown a punch in anger as professional boxer, but the Swindon cruiserweight will make his second outing on a world title bill in Germany.

The Duke makes his bow in the paid ranks on the undercard of his manager George Groves’ European super-middleweight title bid at Wembley Arena next Saturday.

But his trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick revealed to the Advertiser last night that the 24-year-old will then travel to Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, in Germany to compete on the undercard of Paul Smith’s world title shot against WBO super-middleweight champion Arthur Abraham seven days later.

“It is a great opportunity for Duke,” Fitzpatrick told the Advertiser. “He is making his debut on a European title show and then the week after he is on a world title show - both of them on Sky television.

“It is a chance for Duke to be around big time boxing and adjust to what goes on.

“When we started to talk about turning professional six to eight months ago we had a plan beforehand.

“The talk was to have three fights then one in Swindon, then three more and then come back to Swindon and this is what we are hoping to do.”

Fitzpatrick says that he is starting to taper down Watkins’ sparring ahead of his debut next Saturday.

With a session last night, Watkins was then expected to do a speed spar with one of Groves’ partners for his bout.

But Watkins has also been in the ring with former world light-heavyweight champion and cruiserweight contender Nathan Cleverly.

“It has been some really good sparring with Nathan,” Watkins told the Advertiser. “Sparring people like Nathan and George gives you confidence and the psychological edge.

“In there with the likes of Nathan and George can only help you improve.”

With his debut fight just 10 days away, Watkins says that he is not letting any nerves get to him.

“Every fighter gets some sort of nerves, the key is not to let them overwhelm you,” he added. “I can’t look at how many days until the fight is - I’d be chewing my fingers off if that was the case.

“I’m not letting this be a big deal, I’ve just got to do what I do, keep my head down and I believe that I will rise to the occasion.”

Tickets for Watkins’ debut bout are available from Fitzpatrick’s Gym until this Saturday.

There is also a chance to win a pair of tickets for the fight through a charity prize draw. Tickets, available from Fitzpatrick’s Gym, for the draw are prized £5 and all money raise will go to Duke’s Giveback cause.

Watkins and Fitzpatrick are looking to raise money to help send cancer suffer Stephen Vincent’s mother and carer Carol Taperek on a hotel spa day.