Sam Hickey has been boxing professionally for less than 12 months but the 25 year-old Scotsman has already begun to figure out exactly where he fits in and just what he could be capable of.

So far, things have gone to plan for the the unbeaten middleweight who, in 2022, won the Commonwealth Games and collected a bronze medal at the tough European Championships.

On Saturday June 7th, Hickey (2-0, 1 KO) makes his third pro appearance. He will fight Frenchman Guillaume Azagier (2-0) on the undercard of Callum Simpson’s European super middleweight title fight with Italy’s Ivan Zucco. A crowd of around 15,000 is expected in Barnsley, England.

"Pro boxing is different. I need to learn and earn my stripes," Dundee-born Hickey told The Ring.

"I need to do it the right way, not necessarily the traditional way. An 18 or 19-year-old turning pro might have 12 or 13 fights against not really good opposition. I believe in myself and I can definitely do great things. I can move quicker than most. Whatever Rob McCracken [his trainer and Performance Director for Team GB] says for me to do. If he believes in me, I'll go ahead and do it.

"I have a good relationship with Rob and I trust him. That's the main thing in this sport; trusting someone and really respecting their opinion on what they say.

"Whatever he says, I'll listen to 100%, he knows what pace to move me at. There's nobody better for me to be with than himself.”

Hickey’s style should translate well to the professional ranks and continuing to train with McCracken - who got to know him well during their time in the Team GB set up - should help him avoid falling into the trap many amateurs do when they end their unpaid career.

After spending years working out what they are good at, they listen to new voices telling them that they need to adopt a "more professional style" and end up tucking their chin into their chest, digging their toes into the canvas and loading up on their shots.

Hickey knows what his strengths are. He isn't going to trade all that hard work in and go to war every time he climbs between the ropes.

Hickey wants to be entertaining but also wants to be cold and calculating.

"I know I can box and I know I can fight. I can mix both of them," he said.

"I feel like that's going to take me a long way in the pros. Really, it's just getting used to being relaxed and in control of your body. Taking my time and really trying to break people down.

"A lot of people turn pro and they just start walking forward with their hands up taking too many shots. I don't want to do that. I want to be a slick boxer. I want to be clinical, smart and use my brain to get me through a fight, even though I've got plenty of heart.

"It's just a different game. I'm only two fights in and got another ten years left of this so I've got a long way to go but I'm just hoping I get as many opportunities to do what I can do because I know I've got the potential to go and do big things, whether that's British titles, European titles or world titles."

For a long time, British boxing was carried by graduates of the Team GB amateur programme. The system churned out fighter after fighter with a good proportion of them going on to become household names and established champions.

Over the last couple of Olympic cycles, that impact has lessened. Many of the most popular fighters currently operating in Britain fought their way up from the bottom of the bill and built their fanbase slowly over time.

For example, the man responsible for next weekend’s show being such a major event in local hero Simpson, started off on the small halls but has become one of Britain's biggest ticket sellers.

Hickey’s amateur achievements guarantee he will receive plenty of attention and support at the start of his career but he wants to use that as a platform to go on to greater things.

"I've got the talent and I'm super driven," he said.

"It just shows you that if you're driven and you train hard then you can really get somewhere. That's what I've really noticed in professional boxing. It's not necessarily being the most talented fighter.

"I've come from a good amateur pedigree but I don't want to be remembered just for that.

"I want to be remembered for what I do in the pros. I want to box in Scotland and be one of the best Scottish boxers to come out of the country amateur or pro. That’s the goal."