McCullogh prepares for return to the ring

WAYNE McCULLOUGH was relishing his return from the boxing wilderness last night as he prepared for his first fight on British soil in seven years.

Belfast’s “Pocket Rocket” won his battle with the British Boxing Board of Control to regain his licence after initially being refused over a controversial brain scan.

McCullough is now signed with Frank Warren’s Sports Network and takes on South African Johannes Maisa in what would normally be termed a low-key, 10-rounder at York Hall in Bethnal Green.

McCullough became one of the most recognised and revered fighters on these islands by claiming the WBC bantamweight title and going on to stretch Naseem Hamed and Erik Morales to points in super-bantamweight title challenges.

He has fought just two rounds in the last three years and has got back into shape through a rigorous programme of sparring with men like another previous Hamed victim, Kevin Kelley.

McCullough told www.secondsout.com: “I always train for every fight like it is a world-title fight, but I’ve trained especially hard so there is no ring-rust on Saturday night.

“I’ll be looking to hit with more hurtful shots, more quality shots. I used to pray for a punch, and now I’ve got one,” he said.

McCullough boxes on the undercard of Kevin Lear’s first defence of his WBU super-featherweight title.

Lear stunned Manchester’s Michael Gomez to take the title on points at the MEN Arena, and should have too much for his Bulgarian opponent Kirkor Kirkorov.

The Londoner was not renowned as one of the most consistent trainers in the business, but has stayed in peak shape since claiming the title and has prepared for Kirkorov at camp in Portugal.

His fitness should pay off in front of his excited home fans with a stoppage inside eight one-sided rounds.