Jack Bateson ready to fight to secure a place on the GB boxing team for Rio 2016

Jack Bateson is confident the five-round format in the World Series of Boxing will favour him after tasting victory on his debut against Algeria.

I’ve got a lot of work to do. This was my first WSB fight, I’m pushing on now and I think I’ll get there

The Sky Academy Sports Scholar won by unanimous decision and was awarded every round on the judges’ scorecards, looking stronger with each round.

“It felt a lot better than I thought,” said Bateson. “I do three rounds and at the end of that I’m always shattered but the pace is a lot slower, my opponent was holding a lot on the inside and I started to suss him out and as it went on I got better.

“I think eventually when I start doing 12 rounds it will suit me because I warm into fights, the first two rounds I was a bit cold but I got into it so it was good.”

The WSB also provides another way to qualify for the Olympic Games in 2016. However, Bateson, who faces a tough ask to displace his friend and GB team-mate Andrew Selby as No 1 flyweight, is simply taking it one fight at a time.

Ringside

“I’m not looking at it like that, I’m just looking at it as an individual fight and I go out to win and if I can pick up win after win after win and gain Olympic qualification then that would be brilliant,” he added. “I’ve got a lot of work to do. This was my first WSB fight, I’m pushing on now and I think I’ll get there.”

If the Leeds fighter does make it to Rio, it would not be his first experience of the Games having gone to London 2012 as a sparring partner and the memory of that summer is something that is spurring Bateson on.

“I’m great friends with all the team that went to London 2012 and it was great to be part of the experience,” he said.

“It was me and Sam Maxwell and I was able to see them training and they all looked so relaxed about it. That is what the GB team does for you, it’s like a big family and I really hope I can be there in 2016, it’d be brilliant.”