SAUNDERS: I'LL BE THE FIRST ROMANY WORLD CHAMPION

Olympian Billy Joe Saunders is aiming to become the first Romany to become a world champion.

Saunders, who lives on a travelers camp in Hatfield, Herts, made history when he went to the 2008 Beijing Games in the summer.

Although he didn't get among the medals, he became the first Romany to represent team GB at an Olympics.

And now he has his sights set on similar history making in the professional ranks, with his long awaited debut planned for early next year along with team mates James DeGale and Frankie Gavin.

There have been successful Romany fighters in the UK before - including a number of British champions - but Billy Joe, 19, is aiming to top them all and lift a world title.

"It would make me so proud to do it, and I've got the ability to do it if I keep my focus and train hard," said Saunders, who plans to box between welterweight and light-middleweight for his first few fights.

"But I'm not just fighting for my people, I'm fighting for all British boxing fans and everyone who supported us at the Olympics. Winning a world title would be my way of saying thank you."

Saunders, who is sticking with amateur coach Danny Hoy, says he can't wait to get his career underway in February having signed professional terms with leading promoter Frank Warren.

"I'm counting every day," said Billy Joe. "It's been a while since the Olympics and I can't wait to get back into the ring.

"It will be better for me being a professional because I think my style is more suited that way of boxing.

"I'll get a chance to plant my feet and let my shots go, and that's perfect for the way that I fight."

"You can just stand there and get on with it and throw more combinations, and that's going to play right into my hands."

European Champion Munroe Faces Italy's Trotta In Dublin

World ranked super bantamweight Rendall Munroe continues his busy reign as European champion when he meets rugged Italian challenger Fabrizio Trotta on a big boxing show at City University's The Helix in Dublin, Ireland tomorrow, Thursday, December 18.

Supporting the main event is a the much anticipated debut of Olympic Bronze Medallist Darren Sutherland at super middleweight as well as a Commonwealth welterweight showdown between champion Craig Watson, 13-2 (4), and challenger Adnan Amar, 22-1 (6), and a Commonwealth bantamweight clash between champion Jason Booth, 30-5 (11), and challenger Sean Hughes, 15-7-1 (1).

Munroe, 16-1 (7), puts the European belt at risk for the third time since lifting the crown from dangerous Spaniard Kiko Martinez in March of this year and will look to improve upon his top ten position in the WBA, IBF and WBC rankings.

But the lightning quick southpaw will first have to sweep away the challenge of iron-chinned pressure artist Trotta, 13-4-2 (4), who won the Italian title in April before losing a close contest to burgeoning star Jeremy Parodi in the Frenchman's hometown of Toulon for the vacant European Union title.

Trotta has never been stopped and has stated that he will stop at nothing to derail the world title aspirations of the Englishman and bring the European title back home to the Italian city of Vasto on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.

The bill also sees Irish super bantamweight champion Paul Hyland, 12-1 (4), facing off against top domestic rival Eugene Heagney, 7-1 (0), and former British bantamweight champion Martin Power, 19-3 (8), launch his comeback against hard-punching ex-Central Area and British Masters super bantam titlist Gary Davies, 7-2-1 (5).

Rounding out the card is bantamweight Kiko "La Sensacion" Martinez, 19-1 (15), who knocked out local hero Bernard Dunne in stunning fashion to win the European title last year, scheduled to meet super bantamweight Gavin Reid, 5-2 (3).

Frank Maloney Promotions presents "Out To Conquer The World" headlined by the debut of Irish Olympic Bronze Medallist Darren Sutherland and European Super Bantamweight Champion Rendall Munroe's title defense against Italian Champion Fabrizio Trotta along with full undercard support, on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at The Helix in Dublin, Ireland.

Tickets, priced at €50, €60 and €100, are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office on 0871 226 1508.

Sky Sports will televise the action live on SS1 starting at 8PM.