A Clapham light heavyweight boxer hopes to fight his way to the top after putting his frustrations behind him earlier this year.
Kirk Garvey turned professional in 2012 but has fought just three bouts since then — winning all three.
Desperate for more he took the leap and went solo, leaving his promotional team behind.
Things are now looking up for the 26-year-old who has a fight lined up for April 29 at York Hall which he hopes will be the start of a long road to success.
The Earlsfield Gym prodigy trains with Jim McDonnell who also coaches Olympic gold medalist and current IBF super-middleweight champion James DeGale.
“I’m not going to say I need this title but this year I just want a good six or seven fights within the year and hopefully by this time next year I could box for a Southern Area title,” he said.
“I’m going to aim for the highest level possible. I personally think I can go as far as I push myself to go.
“I haven’t shown my best yet as a pro. I’m going to work as hard as I can and try to reach for the stars.”
FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY: Garvey is reaching for the stars after going solo
Garvey is yet to hear who his opponent will be but he fears nobody and says experience over the years has left him with a cool head.
“Whoever it is I won’t be fazed as I’m happy to box anyone,” he said.
“I want to go in there and perform. That’s all I think about and if I catch him with a shot that hurts him and I get the opportunity to knock him out I’ll go for it but I’m not going into it looking for it.
“Over the years I realised I used to be like that and when you go in there looking for it it’s never going to come and in the end you can walk into a shot yourself.”
His frustration stems from originally signing a professional contract with Frank Warren Promotions which didn’t go how Garvey planned.
With just three bouts in four years Garvey felt the time was right to move away from the boxing promotional team and go solo.
It wasn’t a decision he took lightly but for the sake of his career moving forward it was one he felt necessary.
“If something hadn’t happened this year then I would have probably got to the point where I thought it would never happen but I know I’ve got the talent,” said Garvey.
“I’ve never been so disheartened and by the end of the year I was just so frustrated.
“It’s all good signing with the big promoters but if they’re not going to keep you busy then there’s no point sticking with them.
“I boxed three times for him but I got out of the contract because they weren’t moving fast enough.
“I wanted to stay busier and I’m just excited to get on my first show again.”
Image courtesy of Danny Maclaren, with thanks
