Wayne Batten has welcomed a raft of new arrivals to his gym as professional boxing in Southampton continues to grow.

Battens Boxing Gym, based at Shamrock Quay, will for the first time boast double figures in terms of pros on their books with four new recruits signing up.

Boxing brothers Tommy and Shane Watson from Mudeford have opted to make Batten their permanent new coach, in conjunction with their dad Alan.

Rich O’Connor, Southampton born and bred, has also made the leap into the pro ranks while George Wegener has been so impressed he is staying in the city during the week to train before travelling home to Kettering at the weekends.

Batten said: “It’s great to have some fresh faces in the gym.

“We are lucky to have a really good stable of fighters, but it has mainly been the same lads for a little while so it’s good to get some fresh impetus and competition in there. It spurs everybody on and means we have a few extra options for sparring in our own gym.

“Since Jon Fernandes retired it started to become apparent we needed some fresh blood so all of this has happened at a good time.

“I have sat down and talked with all of them, and they have all had time in the gym, because I don’t want, for our sake or theirs, for them to come into the gym and find it isn’t working or we are trying for different things.

“I’m really happy with all of them, and we will work hard to try and achieve everything we can with them and the guys who are already in there.”

The Watson brothers will be recognisable to local fight fans having figured in several local shows.

Tommy has a four-fight pro record which shows three wins and one defeat while older brother Shane has nine wins and one loss from ten contests.

O’Connor is Southampton born and bred and a late starter to the pro game as he is already in his 30s with just seven amateur fights under his belt but says he is keen to progress and make the most of whatever fighting years he has in him, and is prepared to travel to get going.

Wegener is perhaps the most remarkable story.

The London born man now lives in Kettering and travelled to Winchester to take part in the recent Tough Mudder contest, happened to walk past Winchester Guildhall that evening and noticed the latest pro boxing show with Batten was on.

He bought a ticket, went in to watch and was so impressed was he that he started travelling to Batten’s gym and is now basing himself in the area permanently during the week for training.

Batten is also linking up with Bournemouth based Steve Bendall, who fought for a string of high profile titles in his pro career, to ensure extra quality coaching and promoting opportunities.