BRADFORD boxer Ashley Vanzie admits he will be using this month’s British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) National Championships as another stepping stone on his way to turning professional.

Vanzie, younger brother of former British lightweight champion Bobby, will head to Sheffield on Friday, February 20 after breezing through the qualification period earlier this year.

And the 26-year-old will arrive in the Steel City as the man to beat after convincingly seeing off Dan Azeez in last year’s under-81kg final.

Claiming gold at the BUCS Nationals is no mean feat, the competition being the UK’s largest annual multi-sport event.

And while Vanzie insists he would like nothing more than for lightning to strike twice this year too, the Platinum ABC ace can’t help but dream even bigger.

“Obviously I want to win BUCS Nationals but, apart from that, I will take anything that is available because it is a tough competition,” said Vanzie, a student at Leeds Beckett University.

“And whatever happens it will be good experience for the bigger competitions later in the year as it is tough and you come up against some good fighters.

“The ABA National Championships in April is the main one for me – I’ve found success there a bit elusive so far.

“If I’m not called up for Team GB by this April, which I don’t think I will be, I will hopefully turn professional.

“I’ve had a few call-ups for Team GB before but if I win the National Championships, I think it will go that way but for now I just want to keep winning competitions and getting more experience, so when I do inevitably turn pro I will be as experienced as possible.”

Vanzie already boasts an impressive CV, winning the Haringey Cup and Celtic Box Cup within the last 12 months.

But he is not about to take anything for granted before Sheffield, admitting he knows who his main challengers will be.

Vanzie added: “I’m looking out for Luke Batstone from the University of East London, who is 6ft 4in.

"As I’m only 6ft, it is going to be a challenge negating that height but I am looking forward to it and I back myself.

“It means a lot to represent my university, and we also have six other people from Leeds Beckett in the finals so I think if we win all of those we could win BUCS overall.”

* British Universities & Colleges Sport is the national governing body for Higher Education (HE) sport in the United Kingdom, representing more than 150 institutions.

Covering 52 sports, BUCS aids grass-roots participation through to supporting aspiring elite athletes en route to the Commonwealth or Olympic Games (www.bucs.org.uk).