DUDLEY'S Ryan Aston will be looking to “make a statement” in the light middleweight division when he tangles with European opposition at Dudley’s The Venue.

The ‘Tank’ has been pitted against Bulgarian bruiser Stanislav Nenkov, who boxed in the West Midlands against Midlands champion Jason Welborn earlier this month.

The two will tangle in the main event on Saturday June 7, with Nenkov stepping in as a replacement for now-retired Brummie Terry Carruthers.

Aston boxes in Dudley for the first time in his 13 fight, three-year pro career and is desperate for ring time, the 23-year-old having not boxed for eight months.

Nenkov, just 19, lasted the 10-round distance with Welborn at Walsall Town Hall and will hope to do the same to another prospect in the division, looking to break through to national level.

Aston said: “There’s something riding on this fight again, this lad went the distance with Jason and he’s got himself a British title eliminator now.

“If I can get Nenkov out of there early, it would show that I don’t fear anybody at light middleweight. This is the year where I want to be stepping up.

“I was there that night when Jason fought him, so I know he will come forward and have a go. Once you pressure him, he goes into defensive mode, so I need to make him miss.

“A stoppage is the statement I want to make and I just need to get in there now, it’s been too long since my last fight.”

Carruthers, who was defeated by Welborn for the area crown last year, took the fight and then surprisingly hung up his gloves.

Stable-mate and former British title challenger Max Maxwell was offered the fight, but passed to concentrate on his upcoming retirement bout.

The durable Nenkov has now been handed the mantle, but Aston insists his training camp has left him focused on picking up the win regardless of the opponent.

He said: “It was a shame I couldn’t box Carruthers. It was a big surreal how he was training to take me on and then retired, but these things happen in boxing.

“I could understand why Max didn’t take it and I have known him since I started boxing, so maybe it would have been difficult for me to get up for the fight.

“But all that’s changed again now. I want to do a number on Nenkov.”

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