CWMBRAN’S Jamie Arthur returns to the ring on Friday after more than three years in retirement.

The 35-year-old has not fought since losing to Scott Quigg in a British super-bantamweight title bout in February 2012.

Arthur has been concentrating on training the next generation at his own gym since then but he’s got the boxing bug again and, after a gruelling 16-week training camp, he returns at the Newport Centre on Friday night.

He won a Commonwealth Games gold medal as an amateur in 2002 and as a pro claimed the Welsh super-featherweight and the Commonwealth super-bantamweight belts.

So why come back now? “It’s the perfect time,” said Arthur.

“Since my last fight in 2012 I’ve been fortunate enough to train young amateur boxers at Arthurs Gym [in Pontypridd] and over the past couple of years I’ve seen these boys reach good levels, so clearly everything I’m teaching works.”

And Arthur has his sights set on claiming a British title – something that eluded him on three separate occasions between 2010 and 2012.

“I have a goal, an aspiration to win the British title, so that I can prove to everyone I can do it,” he added.

“That and I want to build my parents a house!

“I left school at 15; all the teachers told me I’d never be successful but as soon as I won the Commonwealth Games gold medal, they begged me to go back and give talks to the pupils.

“Wales is my home and I’d love the opportunity to make everyone proud.”

Arthur is also in the process of setting up a sports management company Only The Ferocious with S3 Advertising CEO Matt Jones.

“OTF is a concept that Matt and I have been working on for a while now, which will enable young professional boxers to achieve more,” he added.

“With the support of Matt, we’ll be able to advertise the fighters and build up their profiles enabling them to fight for bigger titles.”

St Joseph’s fighters Robbie Turley and Danni Griffiths are also in action on Friday, while there are professional debuts for amateur stars Andrew Selby and female fighter Ashley Brace.

Doors open at 6pm with boxing starting at 6.30pm. Tickets are available from the box office at Newport centre.