CHINGFORD-based boxer Michael Lomax ends over a year out of the ring, as he returns to action for the first time in his professional career at light-welterweight against Garry O'Connor next Friday.

The 28-year-old, who won his first nine fights at welterweight has struggled to get matched up against opponents over the last 12 months since winning his last fight against Kevin Phelan in November 2005.

That has prompted the south-paw to drop down a weight division, for his clash against Manchester-based O'Connor at York Hall' Bethnal Green on the undercard of the Howard Eastman-Richard Williams vacant British middleweight title fight.

Reflecting on events Lomax said: "It has been over a year since I last fought, but I wasn't getting the breaks at welterweight.

"There was a time that I thought about throwing in the towel, because I would be training really hard for no reason as I wasn't fighting at the end of it all.

"But I'm a fighter and I didn't want to just give up and then look back one day and think what might have been.

"I've dropped down in weight and hopefully I will get the chance to go for a few more titles in this division.

"I haven't fought at light-welter for seven years, as the last time was when I lost in the ABA final against Nigel Wright.

"I have however got the weight off without any real trouble and I'm already down to the ten stone three pounds that I need to be for the fight."

The former Waltham Forest and West Ham Amateur expects that his size and boxing style will lead him to further problems in this division as well.

He added: "I'm not sure there are too many guys fighting at light-welter that will want to face a 6ft tall south-paw.

"I would like to have a crack at someone like Michael Grant for a Southern Area title, but having beaten him as an amateur I'm not sure he would take a fight against me.

"Hopefully though I can get a shot at a British or Commonwealth title next year because I really want to get my career going at last and hopefully things will work out for me a lot faster in this division.

"2006 was supposed to be a big year for me, but nothing has happened.

"While I might be 28 now I don't really have any mileage on the clock, or have been in any punishing fights so I feel there is plenty left in me."

Despite the fact that he will have a two inch height advantage on O'Connor, Lomax is expecting a tough fight next week.

He said: "This guy won his first six professional fights and only lost on points last month against Tony Doherty, who beat me on my last international fight as an amateur.

"So given how long it has been since I've been out of the ring I know that it is going to be a hard fight, although I'm confident I will come through it ok."

If you would like to support Lomax, tickets can be purchased in advance at Results Gym in Highams Park, call 020 8523 5133 for more details.