Pat McCormack already looking at world titles as Danny Mendoza bout beckons

Olympic silver medallist Pat McCormack has lofty ambitions ahead of his professional debut on Friday, admitting: “If you’re not looking at world titles then you’re in the wrong game.”

McCormack was beaten by Roniel Iglesias in the men’s welterweight final at Tokyo 2020, rounding off an amateur career that also included gold at the Commonwealth Games and silver at the World Championships.

The 26-year-old Birtley boxer is well aware he will have to climb the ladder in the paid ranks ahead of the start of his journey against durable Nicaraguan Danny Mendoza at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Friday.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done in the amateurs,” he told the PA news agency. “I was ready for the next step. Now it’s here and I’m ready for it.

“I finished the amateurs on top but with the pros I’m going to have to start at the bottom again. You can expect some big performances, some big nights back in the North East and just a bit of class.

“If you’re not looking at world titles then you’re in the wrong game but I know that’s a few years down the line. I’m just going to take it step-by-step, keep improving, training and learning and we’ll get to where we need to be.”

McCormack’s twin brother Luke also competed at last year’s Olympics and will embark on his own professional career next month.

Pat, the elder of the two by 45 minutes, said: “We have a very close relationship. We’re twins, we do everything together. When he’s fighting I get more nervous than I do when I’m fighting.

“There’s never any rivalry. I want him to win more than I want myself to win sometimes. We’re fighting together, not against each other.”

McCormack is grateful for the role boxing has played in his life, adding: “There was a lot of different paths I could