Montreal promoter Groupe Yvon Michel announced Friday that it has signed Custio Clayton, 27, a six-time Canadian national champion and 2012 Olympian, to a promotional agreement.

Clayton, a junior middleweight, will make his pro debut Dec. 19 at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City on the undercard of light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson’s defense vs. Dmitry Sukhotsky.

"Signing with GYM, led by Yvon Michel, is what I've always wanted,” Clayton said. “I am very proud he has given me this opportunity. I had six concrete offers, including two from the U.S., but I am convinced that my chances of success are best with GYM, one of the best and proven organizations in the world.”

Michel’s group was instrumental in the development of Montreal stars such as Jean Pascal and Stevenson, and the company hopes Clayton can follow in their footsteps.

“Since the inception of our organization, we made a point to sign the greatest Canadian boxers. Clayton is part of this group,” said Bernard Barré, Michel’s head of recruitment. “Custio Clayton developed into the star of the Canadian national team during his amateur career at a small gym with limited Nova Scotia resources. In this context, his amateur trainer, Gary Johnson, did miraculous works. We are convinced that, in his new framework, Clayton will develop his full potential and achieve great success.”