Little Frankee Hayes has a very big dream. The eight-year-old from Greenwich is boxing mad and one day he wants to be a world champion.

There are lots plucky young fighters in the UK but Frankee has a special advantage.

He is backed by some of the biggest names in boxing, including Anthony Joshua, Eddie Hearn and Kugan Cassius.

Frankee’s mum, Charlotte Carter, first took her son to a boxing class when he was just four years old.

She said: “As soon as I took him in he was obsessed. He has been ever since. He doesn’t really play with toys, he will go outside and practice new slipping moves.”

As Frankee’s passion grew Charlotte got him into the Repton amateur boxing club in east London.

Charlotte said: “They say he has the heart of a lion and his game is mustard. He’s tough. He doesn’t care who he has to spar.”

Frankee said: “I am going to become a world champion, and I hope to become the best in the world.

“No one will beat me. Here’s what you have to do: train hard, believe that you can do it and stay to your game.

“The training at Repton is the best in the country. It’s a really good gym.”

But having grit and skill isn’t the only thing you need to become a star in boxing. The likes of Tyson Fury and Floyd Mayweather have shown that you need to have a big personality as well as big punching power to catch people’s imaginations.

Frankee has been turning heads as well as whacking them.

When he was just four-and-a-half he met boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who was impressed by his spirit and told Charlotte that he would keep his eye on him and hopes to sign him up in the future.

Frankee also met Anthony Joshua, now the unified world heavyweight champion and has since made friends with the boxing star.

Anthony Joshua has posed with Franky many times. Mr Joshua even brought Frankee into the ring when he beat Charles Martin in 2016. Frankee went and held the IBF heavy weight belt.

The young boxer said the experience of stepping in the ring has boosted his confidence.

Frankee said: “When I watch AJ I think that’s going to be me. It makes me feel determined. When he gets me in the ring it’s like experience for what’s going to happen when I’m older. With thousands of people around, watching me.”

The young champion in the making has also met the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Conor McGregor and Canelo Alvarez.

Kugan Cassius is co-founder of IFL TV which is a popular boxing channel. He has been impressed by the youngster’s skills.

He said: “It’s always difficult where he’s so young to say exactly how he’ll do but I’ve seen him sparring at Repton, and seen some of his training at Repton and he looks very capable for his age.

“Obviously, he mixes around a lot of boxing circles and pretty much all of the boxers in the UK know who Frankee. So that will help him build his confidence.

“I know people like Anthony Joshua think the world of him.”

Mr Cassius has also been impressed by Frankee’s confidence out of the ring.

“You look at the majority of successful, well known boxers, and it has been about their whole personality, their star quality, that makes them more recognisable in the public eye.

“I think with Frankee’s age, it’s a good start for someone to be that confident.”

Frankee will soon have his first fight as an amateur boxer. From then on, it's hoped the only way is up.

Charlotte said: “I’m very proud of him and I’m a hundred per cent sure that he will do it. The whole family is.

“Im excited for the journey, he’s already on it. Everybody says how lucky he is, because he is around people who are very big stars.

“It’s going to be great and I’m going to support him all the way.”