BEN Heap can make a quick ascent up the rankings as the former kickboxing champion looks to become a professional boxer according to his new trainer Richard Farnan.

The 24-year-old former British kickboxing champion has signed forms with Swindon promoter Keith Mayo.

Heap, who lost a narrow points decision in a world title eliminator as a kickboxer, will go before the British Boxing Board of Control next month.

And now his trainer, who guided Swindon’s Kelvin Young to the IBO super-middleweight inter-continental title, believes that Heap, who won 35 of his 37 white-collar boxing bouts, can be fighting for a Southern Area title in less than a year.

“There is no reason why he can’t climb those rankings pretty quickly and fight for a Southern Area title within 12 months,” Farnan said.

“Then maybe Ben can be knocking on the door of a British in 18 months to two years.

“The public and crowds will enjoy what they see from Ben. He is an aggressive, powerful, come forward fighter that wants to hurt people.

“He enjoys throwing hurtful shots. It is still early days and there is work to be done. He is an exciting person.”

Heap, who is begin his professional journey as a middleweight – the same division as Trowbridge’s Nick Blackwell, looking forward to making the switch, he isn’t making any predictions yet.

“I didn’t think that there was anything else for me (in kickboxing). I had my last kickboxing fight on Saturday against I guy I’d already beat,” Heap said.

“I’m looking at working my way up, little steps. I’m not going say I’m going to do this or that. I’m working as hard as I can and will take it each day as it comes.”

With Heap likely to make his debut in September, Farnan says that he is planning to get his fighter some stellar sparring, while there is also a possibility of moving down to light-middleweight.

“I’m looking at getting him some sparring with Danny Butler and he is ranked fourth in the country (at light-middleweight) and also take him down to Cardiff to do some sparring at Gary Lockett’s gym (where Blackwell is based),” the trainer said.

“When Ben is ready then I will also get in touch with Ronnie Davies about doing some sparring with Chris Eubank JR.

“If he is holding his own with the likes of Danny Butler, Liam Williams, Nick Blackwell and Chris Eubank then we’ll probably stay at middleweight.”