THE weight is right and all the preparation is done - now it is just the anticipation that stands in the way of Alex Strutt and his first professional boxing bout.

The Ombersley 25-year-old is yet to discover who his inaugural fight will be against, but the former Midlands amateur champion cannot wait for Friday to come.

Strutt, who is trained by former WBC super-middleweight king Richie Woodhall, will make his debut at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Strutt said. "We are winding the training down - all I need now is an opponent."

Strutt was due to face fellow new pro Peter Cannon, but that has fallen by the wayside.

"I'm sure that Richie will get me the right opponent," he said.

Having started his training weighing in at 13 stone 9lb, Strutt has trimmed down to a catchweight of 164lbs (11st 10lb).

He said: "The plan is probably fight at middleweight (160lbs), because I will be quite big in that division.

"When I started training I was quite big and I struggled at first to get the weight off but over the last couple of months it has just fallen off.

"I was a little bit nervous about stepping out of the amateurs and turning pro but I'm really looking forward to it.

"Working with Richie is amazing, he knows the game and he really gets you fit."

Strutt is planning to make good progress throughout his first 12 months and hopes he may even get domestic glory with a shot at the middleweight Midlands Area crown.

"If they feel that I'm ready for that, then it would be great, but my main aim is to stay unbeaten," he said.

Woodhall feels Strutt will benefit from the extra weight loss, having the Ombersley fighter come to him as a small cruiserweight.

"When I first saw him I knew that he was carrying too much weight. I told him that he was only a middleweight and he couldn't believe it," Woodhall said.

"But he has trained really hard, he is a good listener and takes on board everything you tell him and if he continues to do that then he will go far."

The former WBC 168lb champ feels it will be at least two years before the 25-year-old starts challenging for titles.

He added: "I want Alex in five to six fights for the first two years and I feel that it is important to keep him local too. It is important to fight on home soil.

"After a couple of years then we can start looking at title fights for him. He has the potential to be British champion and anything after that is a bonus."