BOXING is in the veins for Said Eltuyev as the Swindon fighter embarks on life as a professional with his father Islan in his corner.

The 19-year-old light-welterweight signed a contract with boxing promoter Keith Mayo to become a professional, but the teenager’s fighting history goes much further back than that.

Eltuyev was an active amateur as the former Walcot ABC man often competed for his country as well as Team GB after first lacing up his gloves as a six-year-old.

Further still, his dad is an accomplished boxer, having represented the USSR Olympic team in addition to over 300 amateur bouts.

Boxing is something which felt inevitable for Said, as he looks to make his debut in the paid ranks later this year.

“The decision was made for me to turn pro a year ago, and I signed a contract six months ago,” he said.

“Boxing has always been the main thing for me, predominantly because it was always being shown on TV. That what the main inspiration to become professional.

“Since I signed my contract, I have just been busy training and keeping in shape. We are hoping that my debut will be in September in Swindon. If it can’t be in Swindon, then it will be Bristol.”

The former New College student moved to Swindon from the Chechen Republic as a child in 2003, where he and his dad were granted British citizenship.

With amateur pedigree and interest from Team GB, the Olympics had crossed the mind of Eltuyev, but the youngster says he was too eager to get started on his own career as a fighter as his dad prepares to help him every step of the way.

“I’ve done some training with Team GB and as an amateur boxer, the Olympics is a big goal, but as I developed and matured as a person, I was more interested in professional boxing,” he said.

“My dad is a major influence on me and he has been since I was a little child. He trains me and is my main coach at the moment.

“The plan is to keep him as my coach for my career, I can’t predict the future but I am hoping he will be.

“Of course, we try to maintain a professional relationship but apart from that, it is also a father son relationship. From his point of view, I don’t know what he makes of it.

“It is evidently good to have someone close to you who is a very good coach.”