STEWART BURT has spent much of his love affair with boxing on the outside watching in.

Now the Glasgow fighter is ready to take centre stage at last.

The 24-year-old is one of a small number of amateur talents who have made the decision to turn professional in recent weeks. However, he is doing it with a deep fire of determination burning in his belly.

Despite being under Alex Morrison's boxing banner, Burt agonisingly came up just short of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in his home city so he was left at home to watch, pals Joe Ham and Stephen Lavelle go on to glory.

The electrician from Newton Mearns with a private education background, an upbringing which has earned him the nickname 'Posh', has also spent his years monitoring the progress of other Scottish fighters, with him often standing as a spectator at many of Ricky Burns' world title fights.

It's a stage, despite his Games setback, he feels is waiting for him.

"I'm hoping to get a date sorted for my debut. I'm looking to get it before the end of year, hopefully next month," explained Burt, who will fight at welterweight.

"My main idol is Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather as well. I've watched countless videos of them fighting growing up.

"But what Ricky Burns has done for Scottish boxing over the years is brilliant. He's been the main man and has won two world titles, every time he fights you pay attention.

"I've been to a few of Ricky's title fights. I was at the Emirates Arena to see him and the SECC, it's not often Scotland has a world champion so you need to make the most of it.

"The atmosphere at Ricky's fights is something that's just inspirational. The crowd are so passionate.

"Listen, you'd be silly to go into boxing and not want to aspire to reach that level. I'm in it for the long run.

"I can see myself one day being in front of these crowds with people screaming my name."

It's a spot in the limelight Burt admits he is craving after missing out on a Team Scotland spot during the summer.

The articulate and level-headed fighter lost to Lewis Benson in qualifying for the event, and the Hayfield BC graduate said: "I train with Joe and Stephen every day as we're all from the same club, so a massive part of me wanted to be at the Games with them. But we're all good pals, we go on trips together, so we're close and I was happy for them."

He went on: "My aim was to get into the Commonwealth Games and it was devastating not to go.

"But I don't want to sit and dwell on the 'what ifs', I'd rather just pick myself up and use it as my motivation in the pro ranks."

Under Morrison's guidance and with that attitude, Burt could go a long way in the sport.

If owning his own business wasn't hard enough, his working day is bookended by five-mile early morning runs and gruelling two-hour tea time training sessions in the gym.

It's a work ethic that bodes well for the so-called 'Posh' boxer.

"It used to bother me a wee bit when I was younger," said Burt of his nickname. "I've got no idea why, but you always think someone is trying to target you.

"The older you get you just laugh it off.

"Where I'm from doesn't have an impact on the kind of boxer I am, I'm just as hungry as any other boxer to be myself."

The mailman may always deliver for Charlie Flynn, but the electrician has just sparked into life for Burt.