RYAN Martin could be set to follow in the footstep of stable-mate Kelly Morgan and fight for a WBC title.

The Swindon welterweight’s trainer, Richard Farnan, who has just returned from the WBC Female Convention in Mexico, has been in talks with the biggest organisation in professional boxing about getting him on their youth programme.

And now the 21-year-old could be in line for a shot at the WBC Silver Youth welterweight title in the summer.

“From the airport we picked up Misty Williams and she is the executive secretary of the Youth programme,” Farnan told the Adver.

“We got talking throughout the convention and over the time we were there we were meeting up regularly, talking about all sorts, and I just asked (about the Youth programme).

“I told her about Ryan, being 21, and showed her a couple of videos and she said: ‘Yes, I’d love to have him on the Youth programme’.

“They have one (fighter) from the UK on the Youth programme at the minute and that is Jimmy Kelly. Jimmy has just fought (and lost to) Liam Smith for the WBO (super-welterweight world) title.

“They are excited by Ryan and I have had a message asking whether he could potentially fight in June because that is when they want him to fight for the WBC Youth Silver title (which is currently held by Poland’s Przemyslaw Runowski).

“If Ryan wins the Silver title, he will defend it to keep hold of that and then go for the gold title.

“But once at that level, you can stay in the programme until you are 23 years and 11 months, and then he is immediately ranked with the WBC, that is then quite big.”

Unbeaten former Walcot and England amateur Martin, who is on the undercard of Morgan’s WBC Silver middleweight title fight on March 12 at the Oasis Leisure Centre, admits that he was left stunned by the news.

“It was an absolute shock,” Martin said. “I knew Rich would try and get in there with some people and do some networking, but I didn’t expect that.

“Now training is going to get really serious, fighting 10 round fights for titles - it is time to start working harder.

“Nothing is confirmed but that is what we are working towards. If that comes off, that could open some doors for me and get me into the biggest organisation in boxing.

“That is the one we all want and what we are working for.”