PORT boxer Grant Quigley made the best possible start to his professional career with a convincing points win — despite an eleventh hour change of opponent.

The 20-year-old super middleweight fighter claimed victory over Englishman ‘Mad’ Mitch Mitchell — a veteran of over 40 bouts — in his much-awaited pro debut.

Quigley made his bow at a St Andrew’s Sporting Club event in Glasgow’s Radisson Blu hotel on Thursday, watched by the likes of Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan and broadcaster Tam Cowan.

He won each of the four rounds comfortably — despite his original opponent Mark Till calling off on the morning of the fight.

It left promoters scrambling to find a replacement which was not rubber-stamped until 6.30pm — just a short time before he was due to step between the ropes.

The last-minute change of opponent meant the Port Glasgow Victoria Boxing Club fighter was given the honour of being involved in the final fight of the night — and he didn’t disappoint.

Quigley’s manager and event organiser Colin Bellshaw said: “He was the standout of the show to be honest.

“He boxed really, really well — everybody was raving about him.” Quigley’s coach Kenny Crighton says the chopping and changing was far from ideal but his star student wasn’t fazed and took care of business in impressive fashion.

He said: “He was a late replacement on the day after his original opponent Mark Till called off on the morning of the fight.

“It wasn’t ideal preparation for his first pro fight as his opponent was a good deal heavier and stronger than his original opponent.

“Grant didn’t enter the ring until after midnight and this also wasn’t good preparation for his debut.

“He won all four rounds with the referee giving the bout to Grant.” The young fighter started well and stuck to the plan of not mixing it too much with the weight disadvantage.

But Mitchell was soon on the back foot taking big body shots.

Quigley staggered him in the second round with some ferocious head and body punches.

This continued in the third, with Mitchell taking a beating to his ribs. But Quigley had won the first three rounds, going into the fourth, and was looking sharp in the last feeling comfortable and starting to throw lots of cluster punches to head and body.

Coach Crighton said: “It was the bout of the evening and gave the fans lots to talk about.” Quigley’s team are now in discussions about a possible bout on the undercard of Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua in a few weeks time live on Sky TV. Commonwealth gold medal winner Charlie Flynn is also on the bill.

The Port man is booked to box in Greenock Town Hall in May on the same bill as Greenock’s John Simpson and Sam Ball.