HIS first fight in nearly two-and-a-half years might have ended in defeat to knockout specialist Nick Webb, but there was every reason for Hari Miles to feel like a winner in London last weekend.

The former Team Calzaghe boxer had his life turned upside down in February 2014 when he was sentenced to three months in prison following an incident on a night out in Cardiff.

However, after serving his time and getting his boxing licence back earlier this year, Miles returned to the ring at the O2 on Saturday night, in what was also his heavyweight debut.

Taking on a man whose record before the bout was five first-round wins in as many outings, Miles would have been seen by many as merely cannon fodder for another Webb romp.

But that certainly wasn’t how it turned out, with a number of people, including Blackwood’s Miles, feeling Webb’s 40-37 points success did not give a fair reflection of the fight.

Miles reckons he did enough to earn at least a draw, though he was more than happy with his performance, more so given what he has gone through since losing to Youri Kayembre Kalenga in December 2013.

“A lot of people didn’t want to take the fight because of Webb’s record,” said Miles. “But I thought I could really do something against him, and I never take a fight if I don’t think I can win it.

“When the first bell went I could see he was quite open and I caught him with some sweet left hands that the crowd enjoyed.

“I think he was shocked when the fight went past the first round because he wasn’t used to it.

“I’ve had problems with my back and it went at the beginning of the third when he tried to push me through the ropes.

“I think I won the first two rounds and he took the next two, so I feel I deserved at least a draw.

“But having not fought for so long, and with it being my first fight at heavyweight, it did feel like a win.

“It could open a lot of doors for me as well and hopefully I’ll be fighting again before too long.”

Trained and managed by Dai Gardiner, Miles, 30, doesn’t mind talking about his time behind bars, but he insists that is firmly behind him now.

“I was on a night out in Cardiff and got into a fight with a rugby player,” he added. “I ended up being sent to prison in Cardiff on Valentine’s Day two years ago.

“I thought my boxing career was over at that point but I had a good talk with my partner while I was inside and I knew then I wanted to get my boxing licence back.

“Since coming out of jail my life has totally changed and my outlook on things is a lot better.”

Miles, who has a son approaching his first birthday, is also keen on a Welsh title fight – the principality’s heavyweight crown hasn’t been fought for in 27 years.