Heavyweight boxer Leo Atang says his first-round win on his professional debut shows he is "not just hype".
The 18-year-old from York stopped veteran Milen Paunov, 41, with a flurry of body shots on the undercard of Saturday's Jake Catrall v Harlem Eubank fight at Manchester's AO Arena.
The teenager had been compared to two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua by promoter Eddie Hearn in the build-up to his professional bow.
"It was everything I dreamed of, from the build up to the fight and the outcome. It was perfect, just what I wanted," Atang told BBC Radio York.
"I saw the opportunity and when I hit him with the first one I thought 'just stay on him and get the job done'.
"He's a journeyman, I know I've got a long way to go but not many heavyweights like to go for the body so I proved out there that I'm not just hype, I'm something special."
Straight after the fight Hearn told broadcaster DAZN that Atang was "the future" and that people should "get on the bandwagon".
Hearn said he could now fight twice more in 2025 as he looks to build on his impressive start in the professional ranks.
Atang, who stands 6ft 6ins tall, admitted he had been nervous before the bout and would not be not getting carried away with his victory.
"It means the world that people from York have come out and spent their hard-earned money to come and watch me," he added.
"We keep going. I'll have a few days off and then I'll be straight back in the gym to climb the ladder to the top.
"I want to see it all and hopefully build a nice little fanbase."
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