Walsall starlet Joel Ryan will be educated in and out of the ring when he fights at the Tower Ballrooms in Birmingham next weekend.

The 19-year-old competes for only the second time as a professional boxer against Andy Patterson on the Sunday afternoon showdown show, after a debut win in February.

If he overcomes that feat, he will then settle down to watch Leicester’s Martin Concepcion – one of the biggest hitters in Ryan’s division of light middleweight.

‘The Immaculate’ takes on hometown fighter Dee Mitchell, ahead of the vacant British title showdown between Commonwealth champion Matthew Hall and Anthony Small in Manchester on July 18.

Concepcion remains the only man to knock hot-favourite Hall out.

These big fights are the stuff of dreams for Ryan but – after a bright start with a continued willingness to succeed – a teenager is allowed to.

He said: “If I could get to that sort of level I would be over the moon. But I am only a baby compared to them, there is plenty of time for me to do what I want to do in boxing.

“I just want to improve every time I fight, hopefully I will get the win this time and move on from there.”

Another fighter to step up is Dean Anderson, who will make his debut in the paid ranks at the Ballrooms.

The 23-year-old featherweight comes from Shaun Cooper’s stable in his hometown of Dudley, and faces a tough first test against Pavels Senkovs in the second city.

His Latvian-born opponent comes fresh from handing Pete Leworthy his first defeat in five fights earlier this month, a first-round stoppage.

Cooper has done this on purpose, he wants his new charge to learn at the school of hard knocks.

He said: “It’s a tough first fight for Dean, a bit of tough love if you will. This is no easy ride, he will have to be on top of his game to win.

“That is the sort of test I want for him.”

To be there for the big show, call the box office on 0844 561 6609 or promoter Paul ‘PJ’ Rowson on 07976 283 157.