NEWPORT teenagers Owen Lewis and Craig Bishop have left boxing’s amateur ranks to try their luck in the professional game.

The 18-year-olds made the switch from the by signing British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) contracts at the offices of Collingbourne Hennah Law in Newport.

Lewis and Bishop, both of whom have competed at national level as amateurs, also put pen to paper on three-year deals with new manager Richie Garner.

Cardiff-born Garner, a solicitor by day, has lived in Newport most of his life and is a qualified trainer who has worked with the likes of Bradley Pryce and Jerome Samuels.

“I’m very pleased with the addition of these young lads to my stable,” said Garner. “Both are very capable and have bright futures.

“Too many Welsh fighters are being exploited by outside promoters and managers who, in my opinion, don’t have their best interests at heart.

“In South Wales we have Gary Lockett’s gym and St. Joseph’s Boxing Club that are packed with talent, but the more people we have looking to make an impact the higher we can raise the profile of boxing in Wales.

“These two signings are just the start for me in 2017 and I plan on expanding my portfolio of talented boxers.”

Owen and Bishop will now be trained by former British featherweight champion Steve ‘Sammy’ Sims at the new Xercise4Less gym in Newport.

And Bishop insists he won’t be intimidated by his new professional status, saying: “I have been waiting for this day for a long time.

“I’m lucky because I’m surrounding myself with good people and Welsh boxing is doing well at the moment.

“I’m looking forward to it and after over 60 fights in the amateurs I feel the time is right.”

The less experienced Lewis is equally upbeat, adding: “I may not be as experienced as Craig but I’ve had over 20 fights as an amateur and come off a great result in the senior novices section.

“With Richie’s business sense and Sammy’s experience at the highest level I think we’ll both be well taken care of.”

Both boxers, whose training kit is sponsored by Welsh boxing and MMA brand Gorilla Kingz, just have to go before the BBBoC and complete medicals to become fully fledged professionals.

They then hope to fight in late February or early March.