Gosport boxer Mateusz Bereznicki puts himself in contention to represent Poland at Tokyo Olympics

The former Bay House School pupil, 19, took the Polish boxing scene by storm in 2020, becoming national champion at both under-23 and senior elite heavyweight level in his home country.

Gosport-based 'Big Bez', who moved to England 10 years ago, now looks likely to be Poland's pick to represent them at his weight division in Tokyo.

At least Gosport ABC head coach Darren Blair thinks so - and he'd be surprised if the 6ft 7in giant does not now make it to the delayed Games.

‘Poland keep calling him out there, they’ve called him out again, but obviously they’re in lockdown again now,' said Blair.

'Whether or not he does get in the Olympics, we don’t know, but he’s number one out there at the moment.

‘If they send someone else in his space then it’s wrong.

‘At 19 years old they must see some potential in him, especially at that height - he's beat the best out there.

‘It's worked out well because he won the senior elites out of it. He beat their number one boy who’s won everything in Poland.'

Blair says the teenager should not rush to become a professional, though.

Instead, he wants Bereznicki, who is coached by Tony Gaze, to potentially pick up a medal at the Olympics and watch his stock rise from there.

And Blair is in no doubt to the fact the club have got a 'special' fighter on their hands.

‘He really believes that he can make a living from boxing, he just wants to box,' he added.

‘I really believe that he could be the next AJ (Anthony Joshua), he’s that good and that big, he could really be something special.

‘I really believe he’s the number one in this country. When we have our senior elites, I think he’ll win those.

‘He’s still only 19 so he’s not in a hurry. He wants to make a name for himself first and make some serious money out of it rather than just earn a bit of extra money.

‘If you’re going to do it, it’s going to be at heavyweight - that’s where the money is.’