AS RYAN Martin and Garvey Kelly prepare for their respective battles tonight, the two welterweights move a step closer to fighting each other.

The Richard Farnan-trained Martin boxes for his first title this evening when he collides with Faheem Khan on the Lights Out show at the Oasis Leisure Centre and the Paddy Fitzpatrick-coached Kelly tackles Hungarian Mate Hornyak.

While Farnan and Fitzpatrick have differing views of when the Swindon welterweight derby should take place, both fighters believe it should happen when it makes most sense.

Martin and Kelly are glad that they are able to sit back and let their trainers do all the verbal sparring for the potential fight but both are ready to put their friendship on hold for one night if the battle is made.

“Garvey is real throwback fighter, he does the basics really well, he makes it difficult,” Martin said. “They call him Old School because of his style, he is a real skilful fighter and makes it difficult.

“I know if we fought it would be a good fight – we’d have a tear up, the spars went well and each time we have hurt each other.

“We will go in the ring and leave the friendship behind and go to business and then we will be friends again.”

Kelly added: “I have maximum respect for him, and when it happens it will be a great fight. Before I started boxing it was a dream to be in fights that people want to know about and your town gets behind.

“Whether they are Team Martin or Team Kelly, at least they are picking a side - boxing and the town wins.”

But first the pair must come through their battles tonight.

Martin is facing the man who conquered Kelly back in February, Khan, in an eight-round Challenge title contest, while the Fitzpatrick-trained fighter tackles a boxer that former European welterweight champion Frankie Gavin stopped in two rounds exactly a year ago today.

Elsewhere on the bill, Malmesbury’s English light-welterweight champion Joe Hughes is in a non-title contest against Tomas Bartunek, while Fitzpatrick’s unbeaten cruiserweight Luke Watkins faces Hungarian Tamas Bajzath, who was stopped in two rounds by English champion Matty Askin in the summer.

Penhill’s Kelvin Young looks to claim his fifth professional title this evening when he meets Telford’s Kieron Gray for a light-heavyweight challenge belt, while Swindon-based Commonwealth Games javelin bronze medallist Kelly Morgan faces Melinda ‘Angry Bird’ Lazar.

Danny Bharj tackles Liam Richards in his third professional outing, while Swindon journeyman Joe Beeden gets a rare opportunity to fight on home territory against Qasim Hussain and Chippenham’s Ben Heap is set for his debut in the paid ranks against Victor Edagho.