Three nights before his final university exam, while his course mates revised in Nottingham, Jumaane Camero was in London having his hands wrapped for his professional boxing debut.

The 23-year-old Mitcham resident is a well-spoken civil engineering graduate who has become a Southern Area champion since his debut just 18 months ago.

“That was a crazy few days,” Camero laughed as he sat down with the Wimbledon Guardian.

“It was a pressurised time. I just finished the dissertation the week before but I wouldn’t have changed it.

“You don’t really have time to think too much you just need to get this done, get the win, get back and start studying. Fortunately, we got it all.”

Camero has been involved in martial arts since he was six and has had the full support of his family.

However, in a sport as unforgiving as boxing, anxiety will forever lurk.

He said: “There is always going to be worry especially after you hear things like the death of Mike Towell.

“Even in white collar competition you hear of people being killed but obviously they are unlicensed. My family will worry because there is always that danger but they are 100 per cent behind me because they know I want to do this.

“Fair enough martial arts means the art of war but it is about trying to get a mental stability in your own self.”

In his last fight Camero defeated David Birmingham for the vacant Southern Area Lightweight title in York Hall – the venue for his debut and also for his next fight on Saturday, November 25.

“It meant so much,” Camero said. “I did it in six fights without amateur experience.

“It was a big thing for me. I want to push on but unless I win a world title nothing will come close to that because of how much we put in to get there.”

Camero spoke about the security of having his civil engineering degree in a short lived, bruising profession.

He said: “I won’t be stranded for work if something didn’t go right with boxing. But when you get degrees they quickly go out of relevance.

“I do need to gain some experience running parallel to boxing just to make sure I stay relevant to what is needed in the workplace. But it does take off a lot of pressure.

“That is also a bad thing because that motivation means I have to create my own motivation. I can always say let’s not do this and do engineering. I have to make sure I am willing to go out there and make a name for myself.”

Camero moved to Merton six years ago after growing up in Fulham to be closer to some family members and for financial reasons.

He said: “I didn’t want to move too much but when I did I made a lot of friends and lasting relationships.

“Without moving to Merton a lot of things that have happened in my life wouldn’t have happened.

"It is nice to go back to especially when you go into London which can be crazy but going back to Merton is more tranquil."

Next Saturday Camero will be aiming to take his boxing record to 6-1 as he performs in York Hall.