DUDLEY’S Ryan Aston admits he will have plenty of happy memories when he enters the ring at Birmingham’s Tower Ballroom this Friday.

The 20-year-old middleweight’s third professional clash will take place at the venue where he once claimed the Midlands ABA title on a David Coldwell promoted bill.

And the night also represents something of a homecoming for Aston, who made his debut in the pro ranks in Sheffield and then fought on the undercard of the David Haye-Vladimir Klitshcko bout in July at the 50,000-seater Imtech Arena in Hamburg.

As such, he expects to have plenty of support in Birmingham, on a night which also sees training partner and Priory Park star Tommy Ghent make his professional bow against Walsall’s Danny Clews.

Aston said: “I have certainly sold a lot more tickets this time around. In fairness I did take a few supporters to Sheffield and a few even made it to Hamburg. But this is almost like a home debut and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I have fond memories of the Tower Ballroom as that’s where I had a win as an amateur.”

Aston will step up to six rounds for the bout and his opponent is Sheffield fighter Dean Walker, who has previously taken on big names including Matthew Macklin and Martin Murray.

Friday could be the last chance for a while for fans to catch a glimpse of the fighter in the region, as he plots an intense schedule of one fight a month to build his experience.

Both Aston and Ghent are signed to Hayemaker Promotions, with sponsorship coming from Birmingham businessman James Dickens – who both men work for as contractors. Aston added: “It’s flexible and any time boxing comes up that takes priority. I think in any other job well, you would get the sack wouldn’t you for having all that time off.”

Meanwhile, 18-year-old welterweight Ghent will be following in the footsteps of brother Richie who has a record of five wins and no defeats in his pro career.

And his older sibling will be in the corner on Friday as he helps train both men with Priory Park trainer Paul Gough.

Gough said: “It’s a big night for us and a big night for Tom, it will be good for him to get his debut out of the way. Obviously he is very young but he has been looking forward to this for a long time.

“With Richie also in the corner it is like a team effort.”