Opportunities to compete on home soil are few and far between for Peter McGrail but that will all change as the World Series of Boxing travels around the UK next year.

McGrail was crowned European bantamweight champion earlier this year in Kharkiv, before going on to win World Championship bronze in Hamburg.

Despite being just 21, his boxing career has taken him to all corners of the globe and that looks set to continue as he eyes a place at next year's Commonwealth Games in Australia, before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

But there's no place like home for the proud Evertonian and he'll finally get to fight on Merseyside turf when the British Lionhearts descend on The Auditorium at the Echo Arena for the WSB on March 2.

And with a successful year in the ring under his belt, McGrail can't wait to return to where it all began.

"I can't wait for the new WSB season to start, because it only comes around once a year," he said.

"It's so different to the boxing that we normally do when we go to tournaments - there are two extra rounds and we have the weigh-in the day before.

"I've had seven fights so far in the WSB, I've won three and lost four. I've had some tough fights - I've boxed the Rio 2016 Olympic gold and silver medallists, but it's all brilliant experience.

"I haven't boxed in Liverpool for two or three years, so it's going to be brilliant. Hopefully I'll have all of my family and friends, and some of my fans, there supporting me.

"This year I won European gold and World bronze, and I'm over the moon to be medalling at major tournaments because this is my first year of competing at them as a senior.

"I'm happy that I am stamping my authority now instead of getting bronze medals all the time."

The WSB sees teams, representing franchises across the globe, compete in a league format that leads to play-offs and a final.

Boxers compete without vests or headguards, and in a change to traditional Olympic-style boxing, WSB bouts go to five rounds.

Since the British Lionhearts returned to the WSB in 2013, matches have been held at London's York Hall, but this season will travel around the UK.

And for Rob McCracken, GB Boxing's performance director, the WSB can help McGrail go onto even greater things.

“Peter has a really bright future in front of him,” he said. “He can go between the two formats, AOB and WSB, almost effortlessly and he’s adapted well.

“His whole career is in front of him but he will only get better.

“The squad is in a good place. We had a loss of personnel after the Rio Olympic Games which was a blow, but we’re building.

“It will take time, we’re still a few years away from having a really solid, capable squad that can win medals at the Olympic Games, but we’re certainly doing the work to make sure that happens.”

The British Lionhearts are going on tour for the 2018 season of the World Series of Boxing (WSB), competing in Gateshead, Liverpool and Newport. Buy tickets at www.gbboxing.org.uk/tickets