WINNING a Lonsdale Belt is Lee Churcher’s top priority after being given another chance with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC).

The BBBoC has re-licensed the 36-year-old following a four-fight spell under the jurisdiction of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC).

During that time the Newport puncher won the WBF intercontinental and WBU world middleweight titles.

Churcher’s BBBoC licence was suspended in 2013 when he went to prison for admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine – the father-of-four served 21 months of a four-year sentence.

He could have returned to the BBBoC fold last autumn when his probation ended stayed with the MBC to fight Ishmael Tetteh for the WBU crown.

His previous outing as a BBBoC boxer was in May 2012 when a ninth-round stoppage of Barrie Jones secured him the Welsh strap.

He had also claimed the British Masters belt two bouts before that with another victory inside the distance.

And now he is back with the BBBoC, Churcher wants to make the most of the opportunity that has come his way.

“I had a meeting with the Board and I was obviously remorseful about my crime,” he said. “I embarrassed myself and my family told the Board I won’t be going back to prison, and they’ve given me another chance.

“I could have gone back with the BBBoC last September but I was pretty unsure as to what I was doing.

“But my last fight was a good 12-rounder against an experienced kid which I came through, so now I want to go that little bit further and see how far I can get.”

He added: “Hopefully I can get on some big shows and give my fans a few good nights out.

“I will be campaigning at light-middleweight and I want to be fighting for the British title within 12 months – winning that is my main priority now.

“I won the WBU title but winning one of the big world titles (WBA, WBO, WBC or IBF) is always going to be difficult with guys like Gennady Golovkin around.

“The Lonsdale Belt is a more realistic aim for where I’m at in my career.”