BURY boxer Ben Ridings has been handed a chance to make a major breakthrough early in his career.

After just three professional fights, all points victories, the 22-year-old will be part of the Ultimate Boxxer super middleweight tournament at the Altrincham Ice Arena on Friday, April 3.

The seventh instalment of the event will see eight 168lb fighters going for glory live on BT Sport.

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals all take place on the same night, Ridings the youngest man in the tournament.

That does not worry him one bit though, according to trainer and manager Kieran Farrell.

He said: “It’s early for him and we don’t need to take the risk, but if you don’t take the risk where’s the reward?

“I got the call about it and Ben jumped at the chance straight away.

“He’s got nothing to lose. There are three-round fights and he’s not the favourite.

“We’re not shying away from any fight.”

Ridings was initially down as a reserve before impressing organisers enough to take one of eight coveted places.

The field includes Clitheroe’s former Commonwealth champion Luke Blackledge and Seb Eubank, the son of Chris.

But it is Chorley’s Mark Jeffers that Ridings most has his eye on, the unbeaten Central Area champion being a familiar face.

“I think Mark Jeffers is the one to beat,” said Farrell, pictured above with Ridings.

“Ben only lost one of his 10 amateur fights and that was to Mark. There’s a chance of redemption there and it’s a massive platform.

“We’ll be going in fully prepared. These aren’t 10-round fights, it’s going to be a bit more like the amateurs.

“There’s no feeling out, you’ve just got to get stuck in. That’s why people want to watch it.”

Ridings has not fought since a win at the Village Hotel last May but Farrell believes his man is more than ready for this opportunity.

“He’s been inactive but not in a bad way,” he said.

“The day before my show in October there was an issue with an eye test so he had to pull out of that one.

“Then they wanted another specialist opinion but that’s all done now.

“He was going to fight on my show in Bolton on March 14 but this is a big opportunity for him.”

Tickets for Ultimate Boxxer 7 are on sale HERE