After a stellar amateur career that produced three national titles and multi England international bouts, Orford 20-year-old Luke Turner has joined the paid ranks with huge ambitions.
The former Birchwood Community High School student is in training for his first pro fight and said: “I’m buzzing and can’t wait to get started.”
Middleweight Turner, who first started training in the gym at six-years-old had his first fight age 10 with Warrington’s Phoenix Fire ABC, is determined to make a big name for himself.
“I’ve wanted to do this since I started boxing when I was younger. The dream was always to be a pro boxer,” said Turner, who completed the amateur chapter with the Everton Red Triangle club, for whom he became senior national champion last November.
Luke Turner receives his National Association of Boys Clubs (NABC) middleweight title medal from former WBC light-heavyweight champion John Conteh (Image: Contributed)
“For me, the amateurs is almost like your apprenticeship to go and get the accolades to then sign with a big promoter like Frank Warren.
“To be honest, there was no plan B. I’ve been 100 per cent in, boxing had to work out.
“I want to be world champion and go down as a big name in the sport.
“You can’t set your sights low. It’s about your mindset, if you believe you can achieve it you can do it.
“Some people turn pro and they’re like ‘I’d be happy with an English, I’d be happy with a couple of area titles’ but I want to go all the way.
“In my opinion, I wouldn’t see the point in doing it if I didn’t think I was capable of going all the way.
“It might sound a bit cocky to some people, but I just went to set the bar high.”
Turner, who is managed by Paul Stevenson – who also coaches him alongside fellow Liverpudlian Anthony Humphries – is expecting confirmed news soon of his first fight, likely to be in September or October.
After nine years at Phoenix Fire, with whom he won two junior titles and gained England honours, he joined Everton Red Triangle and won the senior National Association of Boys Clubs (NABC) middleweight title in Essex eight months ago.
When Luke Turner won the Merseyside and Cheshire title in 2018 (Image: Contributed)
Luke Turner, crowned junior national champion for the second time in 2022 (Image: Contributed)
That made the Carrington Park youngster the UK’s number-one-ranked amateur boxer.
Turner, who fought for England in the 2022 European Youth Championships, explained why he chose to join the Frank Warren stable.
“I sat down with Paul and Ant and we just spoke about who’d be the best one for me to go with,” said Turner, whose dad Glynn and four uncles boxed as amateurs.
“We decided Frank Warren’s the best promoter for me to go with.
“I like how they build fighters, he seems loyal to his fighters and I like what he’s done with other lads in the gym.”
Luke Turner with coaches Paul Stevenson, left, and Anthony Humphries (Image: Contributed)
He has been pleased with the reaction of family and friends to his big move into professional sport.
“Everyone’s made up. I’ve had loads of support off everyone,” he said.
“Hopefully I can get loads of support in my pro fights, get everyone there.
“In the Championships I had a decent crowd, it was good.”
Turner is on the lookout for sponsors to help him on his boxing journey.
He says there will be opportunities for exposure on television, in interviews and on kit.
Contact him on Instagram at luke_.turner