Najee Lopez is ready to take his talent to the pro ranks.

The two-time National Amateur Champion from Atlanta has enlisted the services of manager Tim VanNewhouse ahead of his pro journey. Lopez, 21, will compete in the cruiserweight division, with his pro debut eyed for August 14 at Cosmopolitan Lounge in Decatur, Georgia, one week after the conclusion of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in which he once hoped to compete.

“I believe he’s the most talented fighter coming out of the entire US Olympic class,” VanNewhouse told BoxingScene.com. “He has an incredible collection of skill sets. In all my years watching the amateur system, I haven’t seen a kid at 200 pounds move as quick he does. He’s light on his feet, has power in both hands and has tremendous snap and speed on his punches.

“He has a huge ceiling as a young pro.”

The signing is the first for VanNewhouse since parting ways with Split-T Management earlier this year, having previously assembled roster of blue-chip prospects. The Cleveland-based manager is regarded as one of the industry’s premier talent scouts, to where he managed to win over one of the best among the current crop of U.S. amateurs.

Lopez was once on course to land a place on the 2020 U.S. Olympic boxing team. That dream ended at the Olympic trials, when a cut produced by a headbutt in a split decision loss to Darius Fulghum forced him to withdraw from the qualifying tournament. There was the opportunity to also join the Puerto Rico Olympic team after earning a sliver medal in the 2020 qualifying tournament, but instead has chosen to leave behind a stellar amateur to instead focus on the next chapter.

“I am excited about my future and eager to begin my professional journey,” Lopez told BoxingScene.com. “Tim has my best interest at heart and he’s a great addition to my team. I know we are going to accomplish big things together.”

The first fight for Lopez will come on a local card headlined by another former amateur standout in Lorenzo ‘Truck’ Simpson. The show takes place two weeks after the next fight in the career of his older brother Hakim Lopez (9-0, 5KOs), an aspiring super middleweight. Both move forward for the first time since the loss of their father and head trainer Tito Lopez, who passed away last December.

“My father and I always shared this professional dream and I can’t wait to get started on working towards becoming a champion,” notes Lopez. “I know my dad would be proud and I’m ready just ready to get to work.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox