Isaac Macleod takes on wily William Warburton at the Summer Rumble

The thrill-a-minute fighter will be boxing for the first time since parting with coach Anthony Farnell on Sunday when he takes on wily William Warburton.

Macleod is one of the star turns at the Summer Rumble and he intends to deliver.

The City of Sunderland is awash with exciting talent, the likes of Glenn Foot, Warren Baister, Lee Mould, Thomas Essomba and Macleod is among that group.

And the 21-year-old, with six straight wins under his welterweight belt, believes he needs to put in a “big, big performance” at the Stadium of Light.

All those victories have come under the tutelage of Farnell.

When Macleod teamed up with “Arnie” it looked an ideal association, gifted youngster with one of the game’s leading coaches.

But the boxer said he felt frustrated that his career had not moved on as he’d hoped and has been preparing for the Summer Rumble at Birtley under Danny Boyle.

“I feel a different and happier boxer,” said the former world junior championship silver medallist.

“I’m a boxer not a fighter and I felt I was having to be a fighter. I prefer to use my skills.

“After my last bout, I thought to myself that I was making no improvement so I decided to move.

“In the amateurs I was winning titles all the time but in the pros I was waiting for something to happen.”

Several boxing observers felt Farnell was too cautious with a gifted operator who was fed a series of foreign opponents.

In defence of the trainer, it’s hardly uncommon for a young prospect to get built up carefully, especially given the fact Isaac had no real senior amateur experience before going pro.

But Macleod, whose little brother Wallace has recently won a national youth title, is impatient for some movement.

That could come on Sunday at Sunderland’s football ground.

Warburton, his first English opponent, looks there for the taking given his staggering record of losses.

But anyone dismissing the 29-year-old, from Lancashire, will almost certainly come a cropper.

Warburton was one of boxing’s great journeymen, fighting on pretty much a fortnightly basis, taking his pay-cheque but taking little stick. The emphasis is on the word ‘was’.

Now he’s turning up for the victory AND the money and that means he’s a dangerous opponent, just as a number of winning boxers have discovered.

But Macleod told the Echo: “He’s spoiled a few records, but he’s not in my league.

“He might catch out those that stand there but I’m going into box.

“I just want to get in there and perform. I’m looking for a big, big performance and hopefully by the end of the year I can be looking towards titles.”