Unbeaten, all-action featherweight Tom Welland started the year as a two fight novice with hopes that his dual nationality would see him selected to represent the Philippines at the Paris Olympics.

He ended it as one of Britain’s most exciting and watchable prospects.

Welland, 6-0 (3 KOs), didn’t receive the call up to compete in Paris but, by the time he took out the tough, capable Darwing Martinez in two rounds in September, he looked every inch the professional. The 20 year-old from Essex is on a steep learning curve but is absorbing the lessons. He has steadily added imagination and guile to his game and has done it under the glare of the attention his deal with Wasserman provides. Welland’s fights are shown on terrestrial television on Channel 5.

In February, he will take on the vastly experienced former English and Area champion, Michael Ramabeletsa, 18-21 (8 KOs), in his first real step up but Welland is confident of getting the job done and laying the foundations for a title shot by the end of the year.

“Yeah, obviously we're looking at that. We’ve got this Ramabeletsa in February. That's a good start. We're hoping maybe to get out on the first Wasserman show in March as well. So that'd be two fights in a month for next year. Again, very active and keeping me busy,” he told The Ring.

“We're hoping maybe to get a title on that. Maybe a youth title, or something along those lines.

“And then if we come through that and we get to sort of October time next year and we've come through and we've done it in style then, yeah, we need to be looking at English level titles, maybe British eliminators or a Commonwealth title. Something like that.”

Something else has caught Welland’s eye.

The WBC recently announced a new single elimination tournament called ‘The Riyadh Season Boxing World Cup.’ According to the governing body’s website, applications are open to fighters under the age of 26 and with less than 15 professional fights on their records. Featherweight is one of four divisions which have been selected.

Although Welland would likely be one of the youngest competitors, the idea of getting involved with fighters who are at similar stages of their careers to him immediately got his competitive juices flowing. Nonetheless, he won’t be rushed or deviate from his plan.

“That's also something I'm very interested in. I’m very much up for that. So, listen, we'll see what we do,” he said.

“We've got a busy year planned already so if we can get in that WBC tournament, it's a bonus but we're not going to go off track.

“I do like the old tournaments. It's sort of got my name written all over it for an entry. Also, you never know. The WBC might sanction a fight for a youth title or the final might be for a youth title. It's all about how it fits into my career.”