For most aspiring boxers, being compared to one of the most successful and popular fighters in British history would be a huge feather in their cap.

But Sholing’s Ryan Garner believes he has a more impressive style than former world champion Ricky Hatton.

Garner is one of the country’s top prospects, having won the Junior European Championships two years ago and a host of national titles.

But the Sholing Tech College pupil admits he has a tough choice to make as he is currently contemplating whether to go professional when he turns 18 in January, as he would have to wait five more years to make the Olympics in 2020.

“I am tempted to wait for the Olympics but I would be 22 then so it would be a long time to wait,” said Garner, who was speaking at an SSE Next Generation workshop in Havant where he got to talk to employees of the company that have helped him so far in his career.

“I am very excited by the prospect of turning professional. I have always seen myself as having a style more suited to the pro game as I like to wear my opponents down and I set myself for shots."

“Style-wise I don’t really model myself on anyone. Quite a lot of people say I have a style like Ricky Hatton but I tend to think I’m better than that because I thought he got hit too easily."

“There are a lot of great boxers out there and the obvious one is Floyd Mayweather. He has a great style and lives the boxer’s lifestyle but I don’t think I box like him.”

Garner has endured a frustrating year after suffering injury late in 2014 and only fighting once since back in March.

The Southampton ABC star continues to work in the gym but with the Youth National Championships not until February, there is a chance Garner may have fought in his last major amateur competition.

This is not the first important decision of Garner’s young life though; as at the age of ten he had to decide whether to choose boxing or football, having played for Southampton as a youngster.

“I do not regret the decision to choose boxing,” Garner added. “Through the sport I have been able to train and compete all around the world; I have been to the Philippines, Russia, Ukraine and places like that."

“The long-term goal is to turn professional and work my way up the ranks and hopefully go on to British title fights and hopefully world title fights.”

SSE’s Next Generation programme partners with SportsAid to provide financial support and training to the sports stars of the future. Keep up to date with the latest @SSENextGen