After an eight-month lay-off, boxer Lenny Daws is relishing the chance to get back in the ring and he does not plan on hanging about.

Super lightweight Daws, a former British champion, has not boxed since November – a fight in which he sustained a large cut above his left eyebrow on the way to a 10th round knockout win.

But now the Carshalton man, nicknamed ‘Lightning’, is ready to get back in the ring and will face Georgia’s Mikheil Avakyan in an eight round contest on Saturday.

And at the age of 36, Daws knows that time is not on his side.

He said: “I’ve been out for a while and am just glad to be fighting again.

"I’m well rested and have been looking good in training so now it’s just a case of doing the job come Saturday.

“I might have a bit of ring rust, but after few rounds I’m sure I will be back to my best.

"Avakyan will be strong and likes to come forward, so I will have to be switched on.”

The super lightweight has had to sit back and watch as the domestic scene has really taken off over the past six months.

“The division is buzzing at the minute and I can’t wait to get back in the mix," he said.

"My fight on Saturday will be on Channel 5 so it’s a great platform and an opportunity to show people I’m still around.

“I’m not interested in fighting low level boxers just to keep me ticking over. I want the big fights and I want them now.

“I need to keep active now and a win on Saturday could put me in line to fight for the European title next. That’ll give me a good ranking at world level, so it’s a crucial fight,” he added.