RYAN Martin has the chance to become the first boxing world champion from Swindon next month.

The unbeaten 22-year-old will fight for the WBC world youth welterweight title, with an opponent, date and venue to be confirmed later this week.

And Martin’s trainer and manager Paddy Fitzpatrick is hopeful that the former England and Walcot amateur can follow in the footsteps of current and former world champions Canelo Alvarez, Timothy Bradley and Danny Garcia, who are all previous winners of the WBC youth crown.

“You only have to look at the past winners of this belt to know how big this is for Ryan,” Fitzpatrick said.

“But as well as potentially giving Ryan a world ranking with the WBC, it will boost his rankings with the EBU (European Boxing Union).

“This is going to be a tough 50-50 fight for Ryan, but if he wins, then he will be Swindon’s first world champion."

Martin was first brought to the attention of the WBC last year through his previous trainer, Richard Farnan, as he looked to get him inducted onto the governing body’s youth programme, which is eligible to boxers under the age of 23 years and 11 months.

But since switching trainers, Martin, who has won all seven of his professional fights to date, now has the biggest opportunity of his career.

Ferndale Road-based trainer Fitzpatrick added: “I regularly go through the governing bodies to see what titles are available.

"The WBC were already aware of Ryan because Rich (Farnan) had been talking to them about him fighting for a silver youth title.

“I noticed that the world youth title was vacant and I asked them what they would require to allow Ryan to fight for it.

“Normally they want someone to have had at least 10 fights but Ryan has only had seven.

“But they told me as along as the opponent has had 10 or more fights, which he has and is unbeaten, then would accept it.”

Martin’s opponent and details of the undercard, which will include undefeated Swindon cruiserweight Luke Watkins, along with training partners Sam Smith and David Bailey as well as debutants Jason Manners and Harry Webb, will be unveiled on Friday at the Old Bank on Wood Street at 8pm.

Fitzpatrick also said that the venue for the show and the promoters will also be announced at the press conference.