Ryan Aston excels on Carl Froch bill

Dudley's Ryan Aston is eyeing the first title shot of his professional boxing career after earning his seventh straight victory on the Carl Froch bill.

The undefeated middleweight is expected to contest the soon-to-be-vacant Midlands title in July, on the undercard of Kell Brook's next fight in Sheffield.

It follows his fifth round stoppage of Welsh veteran Paul Samuels at the Nottingham Arena on Saturday night.

Aston was soon letting his hands go in solid flurries to body and head as he patiently stalked his experienced opponent in their scheduled six-rounder.

Samuels went on the attack more in the second, but 'Tank' stood his ground, blocked and picked the cleaner punches.

Samuels smiled whenever Aston connected – until the fourth when a left hand stiffened his legs.

Aston couldn't find the finishing punches then, but got the job done in the next, blasting Samuels with a left hook to the body.

The Welshman was hurt - his knees dipped and he pulled his hands down, allowing Aston to tee off with a flurry of uppercuts that landed flush.

Referee Robert Chalmers stepped in and Aston took victory against a 34-fight veteran who has contested the British light middleweight title.

He said: "He was strong, but I knew he would tire after two or three rounds and then I would step up the pace and catch him with cleaner shots.

"I was very pleased. I didn't try for power. Power comes if you don't try for it. I just tried to stay relaxed.

"Body shots were my main concern because I knew against head shots he was quite strong and quite durable.

"But by working the body the hands come down and that is when I came over the top – and it worked."

"I'm not bothered who I box next. The fight is confirmed but we are still trying to confirm my opponent."

Aston also paid tribute to Carl Froch, who gave him some world class sparring in the weeks leading up to the fight.

Froch won his third super-middleweight world title in the main event on Saturday, stopping Lucian Bute in five rounds to win the IBF belt.

The 21-year-old said: "Sparring Carl Froch was absolutely brilliant. I did eight rounds with him regularly in the weeks leading up to the fight.

"He is on a completely different level to Paul Samuels and he is a phenomenal athlete.

"I was really pleased on Saturday because it helped him get ready to beat Lucian Bute.

"It helped me to stop an opponent who was very, very tough."

By Matthew Viney