\n<\/p>\n
Despite that, he is confident he can make the transition back to faster-paced amateur boxing without too much difficulty.<\/p>\n
“Professional boxing is a lot slower, a lot more technical. Amateur boxing is three three-minute rounds, it’s an absolute sprint,” said Welland, from Wickford in Essex.<\/p>\n
“The preparation is different. I would change my running, for example, I’d have to do more short sprint work.<\/p>\n
“My sparring would be changed – I wouldn’t be sparring eight or 10 rounds, I’d be sparring four or six rounds at a faster pace.<\/p>\n
“It’s different, but the transition isn’t too much if you’re the right pedigree.”<\/p>\n
Welland took an unusual route into boxing – he was playing football, aged 13, for Cambridge United’s youth academy when he first entered the ring at a gym for some physical conditioning.<\/p>\n
He said: “I was like ‘that’s absolutely perfect, I’m going to have a tear up three times a week and get strong that way’.<\/p>\n
“I got to the semi-final of the national championship in my first season and thought ‘I’m not playing football anymore’. I just boxed from then on.”<\/p>\n
Welland represented England as an amateur and outpointed Owain Harris-Allan – who won a bantamweight bronze medal for Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games<\/a> in Birmingham – early last year, before entering the pro ranks following two further contests. <\/p>\n And it would be a thrill to represent the country in the French capital in July and August – if given a chance to stake his claim. <\/p>\n He added: “Obviously, you have to go to a qualifying event for the Olympics. Team GB have their final qualifying in Italy at the end of March. Our final qualifying is in Bangkok, Thailand in May or June.<\/p>\n “Maybe in the next month, six weeks, I’ll know what I’m doing. I have got professional fights lined up just in case, a back-up plan in case I don’t get that call-up, I haven’t closed every door.”<\/p>\n Tom Welland was speaking to BBC Essex’s Rob Jelly<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n