Somerset's Ryan Wheeler sharpens focus on Southern Area crown
SOMERSET'S Ryan Wheeler is on the cusp of a hectic summer but admits he wouldn't have it any other way as he looks to force his way into title contention.
The featherweight, who is unbeaten in 16 contests as a professional, is due to climb back into the ring next month with a bout scheduled for Friday 19 July at the Cheese and Grain Hall in Frome where he will face Jose Ramos Savin.
After a six-month inactive spell spanning from October last year, the 25-year-old southpaw is keen to make up for lost time this summer.
He said: "I'm nice and active at the moment and it is giving me a reason to keep fit all of the time, unlike when I was inactive because I was really struggling.
"Every day I want to do something and keep fit. Recently I have started running at 6:00 am every morning just so I have time to get a second session in around work.
"Fitting boxing around work can be difficult, but it is a lot better than stacking shelves at Asda, which is what I used to do.
Wheeler, who has a record of 15-0-1, lost the chance to box Sam 'The Bullet' Bowen for the British title back in March, after originally being pencilled in as a replacement for the injured Ronnie Clark.
Despite the disappointment that followed, the 26-year-old says he is ready for his career to kick onto another level, as he sharpens his focus on the Southern Area title.
He added: "The Southern Area title is something I have been after for the last two years now, I feel like I'm ready, I've been fighting eight-rounders for a while now.
"Obviously I was offered a fight for the British title in March (against Bowen), that was all on BoxRec and everything but then the show got postponed.
"I thought that was great because it would give me longer to prepare, then I don't really know what happened – there was a disagreement and they ended up changing the opponent.
"The first I saw of that was when they released the poster for the fight and there was another fighter on there.
"The good thing is we are starting to get the phone calls and I'm definitely ready to give these fights a go now.
"It's difficult to get into contention because a good record isn't enough, it's frustrating but I am ready to go if we do get a call.
"I don't want to be a fighter who fights a few times a year and has 20 wins from 20 fights, I want to be a champion."
