Olympic hopeful switching to welter

Dudley's Olympic boxing hopeful Ryan Aston is looking to blaze a new trail in the welterweight division starting at the expense of his good friend Thomas Langford.

The 19-year-old tops the 14-fight bill on the Priory Park amateur show at the Baggeridge Social Club in Lower Gornal tonight, in what will be his first bout at 71kg down from middleweight.

Standing in his way will be the talented Langford, a 20-year-old from the Hall Green ABC in Birmingham, an England international competitor and ABA Midlands champion.

The two know each other well but there will be no friends when they slug it out over three, three minute rounds tonight.

Aston said: "Thomas is a good guy and a friend of mine. I have known him for years, when I have boxed for England in the past he has been there, although obviously at a lower weight. He is a good boxer but I think I will be too strong for him.

"I am not worried about adapting to welter, I was a fast middleweight so the speed is already there. It's just keeping my weight around the mark, but with the diet and conditioning I have had for this fight I can't go wrong.

"I feel sharper, stronger and faster than I did before."

Aston has come down two weight classes since losing an ABA national quarter-final at middle on points to Hosea Burton earlier this year, a setback that has got the teenager sweating on his place for October's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

But 'Tank' will still have a tri-nation featuring England, Scotland and Wales to impress the selectors, with a tough fight to get used to welter tonight.

He said: "Not winning the ABA's hasn't helped but now I am moving down a weight I will be looking to come on strong again. It all depends on what Team GB want, I will see what happens.

"They select me, I make the weight and that is it."

Also on the bill tonight is another three, threes featuring 18-year-old light welter Luke Paddock, who takes on Ben Vaughan from the Heartlands club in Birmingham.

Former Golden Gloves light welter champion Jackson Collins and 28-year-old punching physiotherapist Sophie Burton also represent Priory Park.

A limited number of tickets are available on the door for the show which opens at 7pm, with the boxing to start at 8pm.