By Kevin Byrne

HE’S served his apprenticeship and now Paddy Gallagher is ready to reach the top of his chosen trade in professional boxing.

The Belfast welterweight has ditched the vest this week to sign with London-based manager John Rooney.

And why not aim high?

He said: “Miguel Cotto is my favourite fighter. Obviously he’s world-classes above me I love that style of boxer-fighter. Mike Tyson as well.

“I know I’m not up to their level but maybe in time and experience, with the right backing, I can get as high as I can and it’ll be a good journey.”

Gallagher won a Commonwealth Games gold medal for Northern Ireland in Delhi 2010 along with double Olympian Paddy Barnes and current Prizefighter champ Eamonn O’Kane.

Gallagher, 23, added: “A lot of amateurs feel like their amateurs days are their apprenticeship before they go pro and it was for me.

“I wanted to do it before the Commonwealths but then I got selected to my surprise – and then I won them!

“Then you might as well stay amateur for a bit with the Olympics coming around but I lost the box-offs for the World Championships (and qualifiers) in Baku last year, then I didn’t make it through the All-Irelands this year.

“It was the right time for me to go.

“I’m hoping to get fights here in Belfast and maybe down south in Ireland as well.

“John will be able to get me fights in London where his gym is too so I can’t wait to get started.”

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