Ryan Walsh has a new opponent for the first defence of his British featherweight title – but for the Norfolk boxer nothing changes but the name.

Walsh had been pencilled in to meet Ryan Doyle, but will now face Scottish challenger Darren Traynor at York Hall in east London on Friday, January 22.

Traynor is undefeated in 11 outings and is known as 'Trayn-Wreck' – but Walsh won't be fooled by fancy nicknames.

'It took plenty of hard work, blood, sweat and tears to win that British title, so I'm definitely not losing it in my first defence to the likes of Traynor,' said the 29-year-old from Cromer.

'Winning that title has put me onto another level in my career and I know that I'm going to have train and fight harder than ever before to keep hold of it, so Traynor can bring whatever he's got to the ring on fight night, but he's going to have the fight of his life trying to take it from me.'

Walsh won the belt after a points win over Samir Mouneimne and tops the bill next month on promoter Frank Warren's first show of 2016.

'This is the first fight of the year for me and by the end of 2016 I want to have defended it three times and made the belt my own so I'll be making sure Traynor doesn't affect my plans,' said Walsh.

Traynor, 29, said: 'It was like a fairytale story come true for Ryan when he won the title for him and Liam to be the first ever twins to hold British titles at the same time, but that page is getting ripped out when I fight him.

'I'm on my own course to achieve my destiny and that's to win the British title. Ryan's a good fighter, he's awkward and puts on plenty of pressure, but I've seen plenty of weaknesses and I know that I've got the tools to beat him. Let's see if his strength and speed can match mine, plus I have endless stamina, For Ryan, this isn't going to be a happy ending, I'm coming down to London to take that title from him and bring it back to Scotland.'

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