A TOP boxer from Kilbirnie is setting lofty career ambitions after taking another step in the right directions.

Earlier this month, Aaron Cullen was officially invited to joing the GB Boxing squad following a series of assessments.

The boxer becomes the third full-time Scot on the programme alongside 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallists Reese Lynch and Sam Hickey.

The bantamweight's progression to the GB squad is well deserved after a stellar 18 months at international competitions representing Boxing Scotland.

In 2022 he reached the final of four international youth tournaments, winning two golds, as well as controversially being denied a guaranteed medal in the quarter-finals of the World Youth Championships following a bout review.

Aaron, 19, has continued that form into 2023, in his first year as a senior boxer, winning gGold in each of his two opening tournaments.

The teenager was the only Scot in a squad of 12 to claim gold at the Socikas International Boxing Tournament in Lithuania in April, before becoming British Elite champion last month.

Discussing his progress with Boxing Scotland, Aaron says he's thrilled to be taking another step forward in his career.

He said: “I am chuffed. It is another step in the right direction. I think it will take me to the next level.

“Not necessarily with the coaching, just with all of the variation of countries who come into spar will be a great experience and push me on. They also have the best of facilities.

“My plan is to work my way up, start from the beginning and look to impress in every tournament.”

The Kilbirnie teen - who is backed by local businesses Enlighten My Day Weddings and Events, R Stalker and son Butchers, Richard Steele, Bella Landscapes and Nosh - has visited the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, the home of GB Boxing, for a number of assessments this year.

But Aaron, who trains in Renfrewshire, believes it was his performances just seven few miles away at nearby Rotherham in the GB Elite Three Nations Championships a couple of weeks ago which sealed his place.

The Scot defeated both finalists from the English national championships over two days, first beating silver medallist Blair Munhezi in the semi-finals, before overcoming 2023 English Elite champion Kurt Wiggins to win British gold.

“I believe that put the cap on it," he told Boxing Scotland. "If I can beat the two best from England then why shouldn’t I be on the GB squad?

“I saw the two of them fight at the English national championships and planned ahead what I was going to do and how I was going to beat them.

“There was quite a handful of the GB coaches who were there at the British championships, and that was an added motivation.

“I thought it was going to be a whole different ball game once I stepped up to senior this year, but I have adapted not too bad to it.”