FORMER track and field ace Lawrence Bennett is to make his pro boxing debut at the Oasis tomorrow night.

The 29-year-old Swindonian was a 400m and 400m hurdles specialist in his younger days and was a member of Belgrave Harriers, an outfit that has produced countless Olympic competitors.

But now Bennett, a former England schoolboy athlete, is more comfortable having his boxing gloves laced up rather than lacing up his own spikes, and will take on Hull light-heavyweight Phil Goodwin tomorrow.

Bennett said: “I always wanted to be an athlete, but sometimes I didn’t have the dedication at the time to be honest.

“I do miss athletics, but I’ve grown to love boxing, probably more than athletics.”

The southpaw has been training hard to get himself in the best possible shape, and is hoping to have a fitness advantage due to his background in track and field.

“People see you running round the track but they don’t see the hard work that you put in before that, and boxing is the same,” he said.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time, people don’t see the hard graft, when it’s cold and wet and you’re going on runs, or you’re in the gym getting punched.

“I’ve been training with some heavyweights, training with Kelvin (Young), and doing a lot of fitness work, a lot of pad work, a lot of time on the bags.

“I’m giving it 110 percent; I’m at the stage of my life that if I don’t give it 110 percent now then I’ll always wonder.”

Bennett, who moved to Swindon two years ago, says he cannot wait to step in the ring for his first pro bout.

“I’m not nervous, I might be on the night, but I just want to get in there and see how I cope with the pressure,” he said.

“It’s all about testing yourself, and boxing is the best way to test yourself for life really.

“If you can get in the boxing ring in front of a massive crowd, deal with the nerves, deal with the tiredness, deal with all that, then I think you’re alright and that’s what I intend to do.”

Meanwhile, Kelvin Young comes face to face with opponent Martin Robbins today ahead of their Southern Area super-middleweight title fight.

The pair meet at a public weigh-in at Jurys Inn on Fleming Way at 7pm tonight.