A British soldier and heavyweight boxer from Greenwich has won the British Army's coveted Sportsman of the Year title and is now looking to join the professional ranks.

Lance Sergeant Natty Ngwenya serves in the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, but has represented England at boxing multiple times, winning the GB Championships three times.

And last night (November 21), following a stellar year for the Greenwich soldier, LSgt Ngwenya picked up the Sportsman of the Year award at the annual Army Sports Awards.

Picking up the award, the Lance Sergeant said he was "ecstatic, proud, humbled and honoured, that’s how I would describe how I am feeling right now."

"I would like to pay tribute to my heroes in the past – like Nigel Benn, who came from the Fusiliers and became World Champion," SLgt Ngwenya said.

"They fuel my fire to be the best, keep going and achieve. I am truly grateful for the support my unit has given me in order to achieve my boxing endeavours."

The Army Sports Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements of sportsmen and woman from across the British Army.

The Greenwich soldier definitely qualifies, having won the gold medal at the England Boxing National Championships and being the current English and Three Nations Heavyweight Boxing Champion.

The sergeant began his boxing career with the Army when he won the Inter Company boxing championships at his Army Unit and then joining the Army boxing team in 2014.

SLgt Ngwenya is now hoping to take his amateur success forward into the professional arena, remaining in the Army but with special permission to focus on his sporting prowess.

Speaking about his venture into the pro ranks, Natty said: “I am going professional now and I’m going to be promoted by Frank Warren, which is really exciting for me but also scary – it’s the next step for me as a boxer, but it’s a step out of the Army Boxing family, which is really tight knit and close."