SWINDON boxing promoter Keith Mayo has won the race to sign England international and double ABA champion Danny Bharj.

The 22-year-old Walcot amateur had been tracked by several of the fight game’s main players ever since he won a national schoolboy title almost a decade ago, but the opportunity to train and box locally was the decisive factor in making him join the Horseshoe Gym.

Mayo said: “It is no secret that Danny’s amateur record made him a target for several out of town outfits and I feel very fortunate that I could persuade him to sign with me.”

Bharj won 61 of his 71 amateur contests and claimed successive ABA junior lightweight (60 kg) titles for the Walcot gym in 2006 and 2007.

Those victories led to international honours. and he won the 2006 Four Nations tournament by outpointing Ireland’s Paul Upton in the final and also claimed a Six Nations title the following season.

Graduating to the adult ranks in 2008, Bharj lost to fellow England international Chris Higgs on a highly debated decision in his first Senior ABA campaign, but the pair are now part of the same promotional stable.

Bharj won the Western Counties title and reached the semi-finals of the competition a year later – defending champion Martin Stead who also won that season got the nod on points.

After almost a decade of active service in the ring, Bharj took a sabbatical to concentrate on a sports science course.

He said: “I needed time to re-charge the batteries and look beyond the ring. No matter how successful you are, your time as a boxer is limited and getting a qualification is important.

“But it was a time to briefly put my career on hold. I was determined that I was going to come back to boxing this year.”

Bharj then faced a dilemma – should he return to the amateur ranks and bid for an ABA Senior title or attempt to try his hand in the professional ranks?

But with the amateur title trail under way in the next few weeks, now was the time to make that important decision.

Bharj added: “I did think about how far I might have progressed in this season’s championships, but that would have meant committing myself to the amateur ranks until the end of June – the ABA finalists box in multi-nations tournaments in the few weeks following the finals.

“There was also the question of the 2012 Olympics in London and whether I could qualify for that .

“And last of all, I did not want to let down anyone at the Walcot gym, especially Harry Scott who has been my guide and mentor for more than a decade in the ring.

“I was always intending to turn professional, it was just a question of when.

“I will have at least three months extra preparation in the paid ranks than if I elected to remain amateur for the time being.”

Also crucial in the decision was the opportunity to make his debut in his home town in March when he will box on the undercard of Mayo’s latest show at MECA in Regent Circus.

Bharj explained: “I wanted to have my debut in Swindon and if it did not happen in March then it would have not taken place until the autumn, six months later, at least.

“It would be foolish to start making predictions before a single professional contest. I’m going to take it one fight at a time and look to go as far as I can with my career.”

Bharj is not the only Swindonian having his professional baptism in the spring – former Penhill RBL ABC light middleweight Craig Leadbeater also has his first fight on the same bill.

Tickets for the March 5 MECA bill start at £30 with a VIP package also available at £60. Contact Keith Mayo on 07789 890453, any of the boxers or order online at www.kmpromotions.co.uk.