The Hartlepool fight guru today unveiled Scarborough light-welterweight Ryan Ashworth, who will make his first appearance for him this Friday.

Ashworth, who has a record of two wins and a draw from six appearances, has been training at the Brierton gym now for some time.

Fannan though has waited until now before officially taking on the 24-year-old welterweight.

"It's not been a case of me not wanting to sign him, because he's been coming here for a while," said Fannan.

"But Ryan's been working shifts which have made it difficult to train here on a consistent basis.

"He's been alternating between 6am-2pm and 2pm-10pm, but now he's on 6am-3pm so that means he can get up here four days a week.

"Ryan's good, he can hit a bit and he's mad keen.

"He's on the bill at Rainton Meadows Arena on Friday night and I'm looking forward to it."

Ashworth will be on the same show as another of Fannan's fighters, Sunderland's Stuart Kennedy.

The light-welterweight will be having his second pro bout after making a winning debut last November against Kristian Laight at the same Houghton venue.