THEY say when one door closes another opens, and that old adage couldn’t be more relevant for Ashley Brace.

Last month the former amateur star was gearing up to fight in Cardiff on the back of five straight wins since her professional debut in October 2015.

The unbeaten Ebbw Vale ace couldn’t wait to step into the ring to face Hungary’s Alexandra Vlajk on the undercard of the Cyclone Promotions show at the Motorpoint Arena.

The March 11 bout was set to elevate Brace to “another level” and introduce her to a wider public following a handful of appearances on smaller bills.

However, Stephen Simmonds pulled out of his clash with Welshman Craig Kennedy for the vacant British cruiserweight crown and the event was postponed.

But since then Brace has discovered that her outing at Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre on April 22 will be for the vacant WBC international bantamweight title.

She is expected to feature on the rearranged promotion in the Welsh capital, which is likely to take place in May, and the 26-year-old could go into that with a shiny new belt around her waist.

Brace doesn’t know who she is facing next month but she does know her support will be “off the scale”.

“It’s fantastic to get this fight in my hometown and for a WBC title,” she said. “It will be so nice for my fans, especially the younger ones, to come and watch it.

“There is going to be a lot of support, but I don’t let things get on top of me, I’m not like that.”

She continued: “It would be brilliant to win, especially with it being for a WBC title.

“It would take me to a level I didn’t expect to get to so soon.

“I expected fights like this to come at some point but not now, and not for a WBC belt.

“I’ve got something to work towards that I can grasp with both hands.”

Brace has been spreading her training across locations including St Joseph’s in Newport, Cefn Fforest, where she has been sparring with Robbie Turley, Ebbw Vale and Port Talbot.

On her preparations, she added: “It was going really well for the last fight.

“I’d got down to the weight but then found out I wasn’t going to be fighting – I was gutted.

“It was a nightmare. I really wanted to fight on that show because it would have taken me to another level.

“They are rearranging it, probably for May, so I should get the chance to fight, and it might be for the European title.

“I’ve still got a lot of training to do for the one next month but people have noticed a difference since I’ve been doing the strength and conditioning work in Port Talbot.

“I’ve been sparring with Robbie Turley and he said he could see an improvement.

“I just need to keep working and make sure I get everything right before the fight.”

Brace’s St Joes stablemate Gavin Gwynne and Tredegar's Ricky Rowlands are also appearing on the April 22 show.