Lovintz Tota has taken an important step closer to fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional boxer after signing terms with a licensed management company in the United Kingdom.

The 37-year-old, has agreed a contract with Maree Boxing, run by experienced matchmaker Kevin Maree, and will now have to undergo full medical testing and demonstrate his skills in a gym assessment to earn a professional licence from the British Boxing Board of Control.

For Tota, who has been training at the Team Greaves ABC gym in Oldham, Greater Manchester, for the past 12 months, it is a key milestone in realising a longstanding ambition.

“I finally feel like I’m starting to realise my dream,” said Tota, who took the decision to fully focus on boxing having previously been involved in a multitude of sports including football and track and field.

“I only really got into boxing as rehab after I broke my leg in bike accident.

“Once I got into it about seven years ago I just fell in love with the sport. I’ve always been blessed athletically and played football and competed at Carifta level in long jump.

“However, for the past three years I’ve been focused solely on boxing, I gave up everything else because I want to give this my all, give it everything I’ve got.

“I’ve never had the opportunity to do that previously, so now is the time to do it and that’s really exciting.”

While many will question the timing in entering the paid ranks at his age, Tota is steadfast in his belief that it will not stand in his way of fulfilling his lofty ambitions.

“I came into the sport late and so I’ve never questioned doing what I’m doing at my age,” added Tota, who won each of his four fights as an amateur.

“I want to be a champion and win some belts, that’s the ambition. I want to be considered a serious boxer and help put Bermuda on the map.

“I look at people like George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins, who both won titles in the mid-forties, as my inspiration.

“Even if I fall short of those ambitions, turning professional is something I have to do for myself.

“I don’t want to look back and wish I had done it; I don’t want any regrets.

“I have a ten year-old son and so I want to show him that you should follow your dreams and that every decision puts you where you need to be.”

Having been working hard under the guidance of respected coach Marvin Greaves, Tota is relishing stepping into the ring for his first professional bout, with discussions already under way with his management team.

“I’ve been training here with Marvin for the past year or so and it’s been really good, he’s a really great coach,” said Tota, who would be the island’s fifth active professional alongside compatriots Nikki Bascome, Andre Lambe, Tyler Christopher and Mikey parsons.

“I’ve been training really hard, I feel fit and ready to get my first fight out of the way, I just can’t wait.

“We have a few things possibly lined up. The management team have loads of fight cards going on throughout the year and so from my point of view it’s about getting final steps out of the way and then I can go from there.

“I know professional boxing is completely different to fighting at amateur level.

“There are more risks and a lot more pressure inside the ring but I’m really excited for it.”