PAUL EDWARDS can’t wait to get in the ring, on the big show in Nottingham on Friday, even though he will be going up against hardened professional, Andy Bell. After only five fights, Edwards has chosen to take on a man who has won and lost the British title and taken on some of the top super-flyweights in the country. He won the belt from Chris Edwards and lost it, after 12 rounds, to Lee Haskins. He’s suffered a defeat at the hands of Jamie McDonnell, who is now the British bantamweight champion, and has also defended the English super-flyweight belt against Wayne Bloy. Of his 15 contests, only four have been losses.

Edwards has an impressive amateur track record. He was the ABA flyweight champion in 2005, but has nowhere near the same level of professional experience as Bell. “It’s a big step up for me,” he acknowledged. The Liverpool man is undefeated against modest opposition but has been inactive for the last seven months. “I’ve had no luck at all, with people pulling out. My last four fights, people have pulled out,” he explained. “It’s hard but I’ve kept on training.”

However Bell will have even more ring rust to shake off. He hasn’t fought since 2008. At the start of last year Bell was banned for six months after failing a drugs test. He was not guilty of taking performance-enhancing substances but traces of cannabis were found in his system. At the time he told Boxing News, “I’m gutted and it’ll never happen again. I’ll be staying in the gym and I’ll come back stronger.”

Frank Maloney, his promoter, said he initially offered Edwards a learning fight but that Paul preferred the harder option. “I’m ready for the step up,” Paul said. “I’m fit enough for eight rounds, even 12 rounds now.” The fight against Bell is scheduled for six rounds, though Edwards thought it was going to be eight. Then, making up for lost time, he’ll be in action again on March 19. “I just want fights, just to prove myself. I haven’t had much luck but, like they say, you make your own luck. That’s what I’m going to do next Friday,” Edwards said.

And I believe him. Maloney and Edwards should be saluted for moving on to a higher level of competition so quickly. I personally wonder how much a hot prospect can learn from boxing too many old hands who have lost more than they’ve won. The sport has been criticised, rightly in my view, for worrying too much about maintaining that perfect record. This Friday Edwards will be taking on a higher level of risk than a star of the future would usually hazard. Bell, at 24, is only one year older than Edwards but, with treble his number of fights, has mixed in far more exalted company. But I think the shorter time frame will favour the Liverpool fighter and Edwards will win the decision after six of the hardest rounds of his career.