Alberto Melian is ready to hit the ring as a professional…

The 27-year-old Argentinean boxer, a two-time Olympian, will make his pro debut against countryman Diego Ricardo Santillan (23-2, 15 KOs) 30, in an eight-round junior featherweight fight on December 16 in Buenos Aires.

The news of Melian’s first pro fight comes only about a month after he signed with promoter Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing.

Santillan is extremely experienced as a pro debut opponent even though he is coming off back-to-back knockout losses, including challenging then-bantamweight world titleholder Shinsuke Yamanaka in 2015.

Lewkowicz plans to move Melian quickly.

“Alberto is regarded as one of the best Argentine amateur boxers ever and he’s ready for the best of the professional ranks,” he said. “We hope to have him fighting for a world championship within 10 fights. In addition to his two Olympic appearances (in 2012 and 2016), Alberto fought in nearly every international tournament and won dozens of titles. He’s ready for anyone in the world going into his first fight. We have every confidence in him.”