ONE local boxer who will be glad to see the back of 2013 is Blackrod’s Rick Godding.

The 28-year-old light-middleweight went into the year with high hopes of progressing his career after fighting in Germany on the undercard of Wladimir Klitschko’s victory over Mariusz Wach in November 2012 – keeping his unbeaten record despite a majority draw against Rafal Jackiewicz.

He was then on the big stage again at Sheffield’s Motorpoint Arena in April, this time on the Amir Khan undercard when he beat Bradley Pryce on points after six rounds.

But things turned sour when a long-standing shoulder problem needed an operation and that has set him back.

The operation on his left shoulder, in October was a success, but Godding does not expect to be back in the ring until May next year at the earliest.

It will mean he has been out of action for more than 12 months but he is determined to get back on track and make up for lost time.

Godding, who has won 19 of his 20 fights and remains unbeaten, told The Bolton News: “It has been a big setback for me and I will be glad to see the back of 2013.

“After the last two big fights, things were going well and I was in the top five in the British rankings.

“But I could not really go on any longer with the shoulder problem.

“It is down to wear and tear over the last three years and back even further.

“I have been boxing since I was eight years old and it had taken its toll on the muscles.

“I went for scans and then it was decided to have keyhole surgery.

“When the doctors went inside, it was worse than anticipated.

“They have had to shave tendons and fix muscle tears.

“Hopefully, that will be sorted now.”

It is two months since the operation and Godding has only just been able to return to running.

For a man who spends so much time in the gym, it has been frustrating but he is eyeing a return to training in February to test that left shoulder out.

“I cannot wait to get back,” he added. “I wasn’t even able to run until the last week or so.

“It is my jabbing arm so I hope it will be okay. “I just want to get back in the ring and get back out there working towards more big fights.

“After more than a year out, I will be really determined.”