Undefeated Chris Keane returns to the ring next month looking to put 15 months of misery behind him.
The former ABA champion from Walsall didn't box in 2011 but gets the chance to impress when he appears on the undercard of his ex-amateur rival and recent sparring partner Shane McPhilbin's defence of his British cruiserweight title.
McPhilbin puts his belt on the line for the first time against big-punching former WBO world champion Enzo Maccarinelli on a PJ Promotions and Frank Warren-promoted, BoxNation-televised bill at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on March 23 - and Keane is hoping to reach the same level in the next 18 months.
Formerly handled by Barry McGuigan and Matchroom, Keane [pictured above, bottom right] is now looked after by Frank Warren and Errol Johnson, and hopes his new promoter's contacts can secure him regular outings and opportunities in an exciting-looking division that appears wide open and full of young talent.
Though inactive since a closer-than-anticipated six-rounder with Sheffield binman Carl Wild in December 2010, the Paul Hudson-trained 26-year-old has kept himself in decent nick and ticked over in several gyms around the Midlands - even helping Shane McPhilbin prepare for his Lonsdale Belt-winning scrap with Leon Williams in January.
And Keane's sharp, fast lead has secured him four paid wins in as many outings [one inside] and his six-rounder - six miles down the round from his Walsall home - will be a decent rust-shredding exercise that, he hopes, will set him back on course to title fights.
He said: "Cruiserweight is open at the moment and i want to be up there competing with the likes of McPhilbin for the British title," admitted an ambitious Black Countryman who lost to the Nottingham banger in the vest but then went onto lift a national title.
"It's been a frustrating couple of years for me," he continued. "Actually, it's been frustrating since my pro debut [in 2009], as i injured myself just after that and was out for ten months. But after three fights in 2010 I've had nothing since and watched other people race ahead of me and your head starts to drop a bit.
"I'd like to fight every four to six weeks and start moving up the ladder. But as long as i stay busy and keep winning then i have every faith in my ability to not only reach British level but to go beyond it."
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