NICK Blackwell’s third shot at the British middleweight title could be against John Ryder.

In their latest circular, the British Boxing Board of Control have confirmed that Billy Joe Saunders has vacated the Lonsdale belt and have put a contest between Trowbridge’s ‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell and Londoner Ryder out to purse bids, with the contest to take place before the end of July this year.

Last year, mandatory British title challenger Blackwell (16-3-1) was paid step aside money to allow Saunders and Chris Eubank Jr to fight for the belt.

The Contender Gym man, 24, was last in action when he beat Nathan King in Kent last October whilst 26-year-old Ryder (20-1), defended the IBO inter-continental title against Billi Godoy in his last outing.