Les Byfield is Priory's Park surprise package

A fantastic four from the gym take up a quartet of the six bouts on offer at the Venue in the town a week on Friday,

Byfield lines up alongside Ryan Aston, Ricky Summers and Ryan Partridge for what will be his pro debut. He will start out at lightweight, before dropping down to super feather.

And, while his three cohorts boxed to distinction in the unpaid ranks, Byfield turns over with no amateur experience having honed his craft on the unlicensed circuit.

But the 27-year-old is no raw scrapper, though, more a stylish back-foot boxer with a natural aptitude for the ring. That's what trainer Paul Gough has revealed of his new charge.

He said: "Les came to my attention through another one of our coaches, Steven Hawthorn, who was letting him use the gym to keep him ticking over.

"It came to a point where we were letting him spar with our (Midlands light welterweight) champion, Luke Paddock, which was bringing him on leaps and bounds.

"I know he's stopped lads at unlicensed level, but that's not what I consider him to be about. He's a stand up boxer with grit and determination, who gives 100 per cent.

"That's what I like about him and I think we could do something with him as a pro. I see his title weight being super feather as he's tall, so he'd benefit from the height advantage.

"He's not been told to go out and knock people out, we want him boxing on the back-foot like he's good at, then counter punching aggressively and putting the pressure on."

Byfield, from Netherton, will first step through the ropes with the capable and wily Harvey Hemsley, who will be competing in his 20th pro contest.

Partridge, competing in his second paid contest after an impressive two-round retirement of Ben Robinson last year, takes on Polish hardman Robert Studinski.

Dudley cohort and fellow light middleweight Aston will surely be ready for a summer title fight if he can make it 10 unbeaten against Joe Walsh.

Tipton's Summers tackles Iain Jackson at light heavyweight, who has come up the weights since he was outpointed on Aston's pro debut nearly four years ago.

Andrew Robinson and another debutant, Tyler Denny, complete a card of four-round contests which is already close to sold out.

Gough said: "It's Les and Tyler who have sold most of the tickets, so they have great support and that will be important for them.

"We've told Partridge he beats Studinski at his best all day long but he knows to be careful, this guy can take a pasting and bang a bit himself.

"I think Aston needs one more keep busy fight, then we talk to BoxNation and see if they have any plans for him. We are told they are back here with a big show in June.

"Ricky is looking as sharp as I have ever seen him, to be honest, and seems to be coming into the sort of power that will make him formidable, along with his boxing skills."

For more information and a limited number of tickets, call promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157. The Venue can be contacted on 01384 459 800.