Ryan Aston buoyed by the title contenders

Aston competes at the Town Hall in Leeds next Friday night, after losing a Midlands title shot and enduring a technical draw in his last two fights.

Curtis Valentine snapped his undefeated pro streak in two rounds last July, before he was cut by the eye from a clash of headsafter three rounds with Tyan Booth in November.

But 'Tank' has been keeping tabs on the middleweight scene and has been left confident he can fast-tracked back to the battle for belts with a couple of wins.

The 22-year-old has been sparring with Matthew Hall, who has landed the first shot at British and Commonwealth champion Billy Joe Saunders the night before Aston boxes.

And he was also present at Wolverhampton Civic Hall last Saturday night to see Danny Butler seize the English crown with a 10th round stoppage of Birmingham's Thomas Costello.

That further convinced Aston that the division is wide open for his resurgence, starting in Leeds and continuing with an appearance supporting the big Matchroom bill on April 20.

The Sky Sports cameras will be rolling that night in Blackpool and Aston sees it as it's last warm up before he goes back to the big fights, with new English titlist Butler the obvious target.

Aston said: "I have sparred with Danny many times and never really thought of him as a threat, so for him to win the English title is like a door opening for me.

"I was hoping Thomas would win, he was the local favourite and a good friend of mine, but it wasn't to be and Butler did well, I have to admit.

"I just want a couple of fights to get me back to where I was, this is one and then we are looking at opponents for a six-rounder in Blackpool.

"I know I have got to prove people wrong, I fell off track for the right reasons but I will get to where I want to be."

Next Friday night is about exorcising the demons for Aston and getting him back to winning ways, in a four-rounder against Kirill Psonsko.

Aston also watched Psonsko lose on points to Andrew Robinson at the Civic but the sturdy Lithuanian gave a good account of himself.

But Aston warns he will be a different proposition altogether and insisted he has worked as hard as ever to get himself ready for fight night.

He said: "There's been no hiccups this time and I treat every fight the same way, you still have to be in the gym every day and training hard!

"I have watched this guy and he's not bad but he's pretty standard. He tucks up a lot, so I am going to have to open him up and let my shots go.

"I just need to get some rounds in, that's the reason we have took this fight, but if the chance comes to put him way rest assured I will do.

"I don't think I will struggle at all with this one."