Charlie Edwards is confident he can make an impact in his first major boxing tournament for Great Britain next week.

The 18-year-old Beddington bruiser flies to Turkey with the rest of country's podium squad on Tuesday to take part in the European Amateur Championships, which begin next Thursday.

He has represented the country before but only in minor tournaments and is now eager to test himself on the international stage.

"It is my first time representing Britain at a major tournament and I cannot wait for it," said the light-flyweight.

"It should be great and it is supposed to be very hot in Turkey and I like that.

"I am in shape and fighting fit because of the ABAs recently and I am boxing at 49kg now instead of 48kg as that is the international weight and I feel a lot better for it.

"I am where I want to be now and I just need to keep performing.

"I am number one in my weight in Britain so the next stage will be the World Championships in September and that's an Olympic qualifier too."

Edwards won the national Amateur Boxing Association title last month, earning him elevation from the country's development squad to the podium squad.

That has seen him training with the Britain's best fighters in Sheffield and he already feels better for the experience.

"It has been going really well up there," he said.

"Training is hard and the sparring is top quality.

"The Irish team and the Polish team came over for a training camp last week and that was really intense training but really good.

"I was sparring with two former Olympians including Paddy Barnes, who won the European and Commonwealth titles last year and is an Olympic bronze medallist.

"It has made me feel a lot more confident going to the Europeans, I have seen what the best is and I have boxed with them so I know what I am up against."