FORMER Welsh champion Craig Woodruff returns to the ring tonight determined to make up for lost time and with dreams of capturing a British title.

The 26-year-old takes on Englishman Liam Richards at the Llandarcy Academy of Sport more than four years after his last fight, a points defeat to Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell.

Newport’s Woodruff lost his boxing licence in 2016 following an incident in a five-a-side football match that saw him break the jaw of a player in the opposing team.

He admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to 45 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, while he also had to pay £2,500 compensation to his victim and do 70 hours of unpaid work.

But Woodruff insists he had no intention of quitting the sport during his time out, and having got his licence back in September, he cannot wait to get things back on track, starting this weekend.

“I’ve been given a second chance,” he said.

“Well, actually, it’s my last chance, so I want to make the most of it.

“I’m 26 now and I’ve grown up a bit since I last fought, and I’ve also got a family to look after, so I’ve got to pull my finger out.”

He added: "I had no intention of quitting after what happened two years ago, and now I’m back I want to fight for a British title.

“I’m not saying that’s what I’m going to do, but if I’m good enough then it’s something I’ve always wanted to win.”

Now training under the likes of Richie Garner, Luke Pearce and Always ABC’s Carl Samuels, Woodruff became Welsh lightweight champion in February 2013.

Then trained by former British featherweight king Steve Sims, Woodruff got the better of Tony Pace at the Newport Centre, before losing out on the vacant Celtic crown to Mitch Buckland.

“I’ve got good memories of that night when I beat Tony Pace,” he said. “My partner was pregnant with our son, but we hadn’t found out at that point, so he was at that fight and he’ll be at this one.

“I can’t wait to get back in the ring, and I’m not nervous at all, just excited to start again.”

Woodruff has had plenty of support on the way to making his comeback, most notably from the ‘Newport’s Rocky’ project, Gorilla Kingz, Total Teamwear UK and The Ferns pub in Lliswerry Road.

Meanwhile, St Joseph’s lightweight Lance Cooksey will go for an eighth straight win in Llandarcy tonight when he takes on Englishman Jordan Ellison.