KristinaO'Hara

"Sugar K"

O’Hara, 27, will be following the Queensberry trail set down by double Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams, who became WBO world champion in her first five pro fights, and now Raven Chapman, already the holder of the WBC International featherweight title and closing in on a world title shot.

For the 3-0 minimum weight star, having a Hall of Fame promoter in her corner is the final ingredient towards creating professional glory.

“I am absolutely delighted and it is something I have been working towards my whole life,” said the 2018 Commonwealth Games silver medallist on teaming up with the veteran fight maker. “I always knew, somewhere along the line, if I was patient and persistent that I would eventually break through.

“I have to be thankful as well to the people around me, like Susannah Schofield – my last promoter – who gave me the three fights to get my name out there a bit.

“It is overwhelming, I am just over the moon.

“It was two weeks ago when we made the trip over, with my husband and coach Gerard McCafferty, to sit down with Frank and talk possibilities. I told him I am destined to become a multi-weight world champion and I think he can help me get there.

“Frank is an out-and-out boxing man and he always has been, so he gets it.”

O’Hara started boxing at the age of 10 at her local club, from which she won Irish titles, Ulster titles, European gold and silver medals before switching to the St John Bosco’s club in West Belfast and Celtic and more Irish titles followed.

O’Hara accumulated a staggering total of 14 Irish titles and her final amateur experience came at the Commonwealth Games.

“It has been a lifetime of hard work,” she added, before revealing the battle plan set out by her new promoter.

“At the minute we are just looking to get the news out and hopefully soon to follow will be some fight news. I know he is going to try and keep me as active as possible and we are going to move towards titles as quickly as we can.

“Especially with my weight, which is 47.7kg, there is a good bit of opposition out there. That being said, we want to get a couple of fights in first and then start going for titles.

“There is no time to waste, I want to get there and I want to get to work as soon as possible.”

For his part, the head of Queensberry is convinced he is backing a natural born winner with his newest recruit.

“The city of Belfast will have a new world champion in the very near future,” said promoter Warren. “We met with Kristina and, with her ambition and total conviction in her own ability, I didn’t need any persuading when it came to providing her with the backing of Queensberry.

“Kristina is a gem of a person and clearly a champion in the making when it comes to boxing and we will guide her to the top and build her profile as we go along.

“I am so looking forward to getting this journey started and I am certain that, in Raven Chapman and now Kristina, we will soon have two female world champions on our books.”