RYAN Martin must stay his guard when he faces Matthew Ashmole in Gloucester this month.

The rising welterweight star takes on the Welshman, who has yet to taste victory in his 24-fight career, at the GL1 Leisure Centre on April 18.

And while many would look at the 34-year-old’s record and feel that it should be an easy night’s work for the former Walcot and England amateur, Ashmole has only been stopped five times.

Martin, 21, is also likely to have to give away weight advantage too, with the Swansea slugger coming in around the middleweight mark in his last eight contests.

“Matthew Ashmole may not have the greatest of records but he comes forward all the time,” Martin’s manager Keith Mayo said.

“Ryan will have to be on his guard and not get complacent.”

Mayo is hoping to secure a new opponent for headliner Andy Keates in the main event at the GL1 after Michael Mooney was stopped at the York Hall by Romeo Romaeo, forcing him out of the Midlands Area lightweight title clash.

Meanwhile, Kelvin Young will look to straight the record straight when fights for a British Masters Bronze super-middleweight title against Joe Walsh.

When they met at the Oasis Leisure Centre in February, the pair laboured to an uninspiring draw over six rounds, but the Penhill pugilist feels that he will be more suited to the eight-round distance.

Also on this month's KM Promotions show are middleweight Adam Harper, who takes on Aaron Robinson.

Dan Carter meets Matt Seawright, Dean Evans faces Kristian Laight and Scott Gibbons JR makes his professional debut.