Alliss confident he can make the grade (From Stroud News and Journal)

Alliss confident he can make the grade

LEIGH ALLISS cuts an impressive sight and one look at him clearly shows that his chosen profession is the right one.

The professional light heavy-weight boxer from Stroud is undoubtedly a man intent on a mission as he aims to play catch up in a career that could feasibly, with his undoubted drive and determination, take him to the very top.

Leigh, 27, actually turned professional three years ago but has been forced to wait three years for his first professional fight in March, after circumstances outside boxing put his career on the ropes.

Tragically Leigh lost his father, Tony, killed in a shooting incident when he was just 14 which also saw Leigh suffer a gunshot wound to the arm.

The last three years has seen Leigh and his close-knit family fighting further court battles for justice in the name of his father.

But boxing has now become his salvation and Leigh is certainly off the canvas and ready to play catch up in a stop-start career that as yet has hardly got off the ground.

"Without boxing I could be in prison," he said. "It has given me an outlet and my dad would love to see me doing this. I dedicate every fight to my dad," Leigh said proudly.

Leigh's first professional fight staged last month at Ashton Gate home of Bristol City football club ended in disappointment as he lost by one point to Jamaican Ovill McKenzie in four no-nonsense three minute rounds.

"It was a very close, hard fight," said Leigh. "I thought he won the first round and I got a warning for a head butt in the first."

Despite admitting that he was very nervous Leigh got back on track in the second round and roared on by more than 100 supporters he soon got to work and began to unsettle his more experienced opponent.

"I took the second round with some good heavy left and right shots," revealed Leigh.

" The third round was judged as a draw and he got the better of the fourth. It was then that I lost it a bit and I started to think about my dad.

"I wasn't really happy with my performance and didn't get into a rhythm and punched myself out. But after watching the video replay I was much happier with my improvement and so was my manager," added Leigh.

Leigh's manager is the former top British boxer Chris Sanagar and he trains at the Empire Gym where he often spars with boxing legends Glen Catley and Dean Francis.

"They are tough guys but they have helped my game, as have Johnny Melfah and James Malloy who have also been massive influences," he said. Leigh's next fight is set for June 6 at Ashton Gate.