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Pattinson, a former Team GB amateur boxer, had been due to make his professional bow a year ago only for the coronavirus pandemic to hit and force him to put his plans on hold.

Over the past 12 months the 27 year-old has been training hard in the gym, and all that work paid off when he stopped Bulgarian Yoncho Markov in the second round at the weekend.

The fight, at light welterweight level, was held at the Newcastle Eagles’ Arena as support for the Lewis Ritson - Jeramias Ponce main bill, which was a title eliminator.

It was scheduled for six rounds, but was stopped at 1min 50 secs into the second.

Pattinson dropped Markov to the canvas twice before referee Victor Loughlin stepped in to call a halt to proceedings..

Markov managed to make it to his feet at ‘eight’ on the count, but was not allowed to continue.

Afterwards Pattinson said: "I’ve dreamed about this moment for so long and it was everything and more.

“I was really happy with my performance, it was a bit cagey early on, but I setttled after the first round.

“I put my shots together well and I was really happy with where we went in the second round.

“This was better than I ever could have imagined it, the support I got was overwhelming. I didn’t realise it was going to be like that and it was a fantastic atmosphere.

“It’s been a long year waiting for this, but it was worth it.”

Pattinson, who was born in Ashington, is a former Duchess’s High School pupil in Alnwick, and he completed a boxing scholarship at Gateshead College before focusing on the sport.

He had his first amateur fight in 2012, competing as a welterweight, but it was 2015 when his career moved up a gear, going on to win 20 bouts (losing six).

He eventually decided to make the move into the professional ranks and had hoped to make his debut in 2020, only for Covid to strike and land him a body blow.

"As a professional boxer all I want to do is to have a good career and make a living to be able to support my family,” he said.