A RISING star of the boxing world is 'buzzing' after shooting up the light-heavyweight rankings.

Bentham's Tomi 'TNT' Tatham has climbed eight places in the last year alone to now be ranked as the thirteenth best fighter in his weight division in the United Kingdom.

Boxing News released their latest rankings on Friday, January 8, and the results delighted Tatham, who dominated each of his four fights in 2015, winning three on points and knocking out Carl Wild.

"I'm very pleased with the position as I didn't think they would have me that high," the 26-year-old said.

"If I'm honest I'm buzzing."

Tatham also announced that he has a date for his first fight of 2016 as he looks to push for a title shot in the coming months.

He will go up against an as yet unnamed opponent at Manchester's Victoria Warehouse on Saturday, March 19, and he is hoping to kick-start his year with a knockout.

He said: "I'm hoping to get some more KO's. Everyone goes to watch a fight to see a knockout and it's nice to get one - it's the best way you can win and if I start getting them then I'll get even more people watching."

Tatham has identified two fighters that he really wants to go toe to toe with, and both are above him in the rankings.

Nathan King, who Tatham described as 'a hard, hard man', is ranked sixth and Hosea Burton, from Manchester, is fifth, but the Bentham boxer is not overawed.

"If it was up to me I'd fight anyone," he said.

"But my trainer Karl knows who he wants to get me.

"I just want to work towards getting the English title and then the doorways start opening."

Tatham is already training three times a week for the bout and has employed a new strength and conditioning coach, Josh Lancaster, to give him the edge over his opponents.