KARATE World Champion Paul Newby is to take his first step on the road to the boxing big time with his first professional fight this weekend.

Newby stunned the martial arts world when he decided to turn his back on karate after taking the world title in Mexico and opted to take his chance in the professional boxing ring.

But on the eve of his first fight the 28-year-old has no regrets.

"I have gained more recognition in the months I have been training as a boxer than I did in all my career in karate - and I was a world champion at that sport," he said.

He won his world title in November 2004, beating champions from Russia, Vietnam, Turkey, Iran and Venezuela. After his victory he briefly tasted life as a sporting superstar with an appearance on TV and fans demanding his autograph.

But back in England his hopes of continuing in the sport were dealt a blow when he was told karate had been dropped from Sport England's elite athlete lottery funding programme.

He had already been working with boxers to give his karate skills and extra edge and decided to switch sports.

"The opportunities and financial rewards available in boxing are totally beyond anything I could hope for in karate. If I can have five good years in boxing I could make enough money to set me up for the future," he said.

But first Newby has to negotiate his first fight, when he will meet experienced Londoner Ian Reid who already has 15 professional fights under his belt.

"I've been training at the Don Valley Sports Academy in Sheffield for the last seven months with top coach Howard Rainey who guided former world featherweight champion Colin McMillan to the top. I've impressed him and other people in boxing with my discipline for training g and appetite for boxing."

Because he has never fought as an amateur Newby had to undergo a stiff test before being awarded his professional boxing license. He had to pass a string of medical tests, go in front of an examining board and fight a 'test' bout to show he had the skill to survive.

"Some people have said that I'm too old to take up boxing, but I have been competing at the top level, even though it was in another sport. A lot of the skills transfer from karate to boxing so the step hasn't been too great.

"It's 12 months since I've been fighting in competition and now I just want to get back into action

"I will be fighting as a Super Featherweight which is slightly heavier than I fought in karate."

Top of the bill on Sunday will be Bradford boxer Nadeem 'Golden Boy Sid' Siddique who has been tipped to rival Olympic medalist Prince Naseem.

n Tickets are available at £25, £35 and £60 to book phone: 07812-537-429.