BLACKROD boxer Rick Godding is determined to make up for lost time and reignite his bid to become a British champion this weekend.

The 32-year-old has endured a frustrating two years, sidelined for 22 months with a shoulder injury and then struggling for big fight dates.

His last showpiece bout came at short notice against home-town hero Gary Corcoran at Wembley Arena in July 2015 and, despite cutting his opponent above the left eye in round two, he lost on points by unanimous decision after 10 rounds.

That first professional defeat saw Godding miss out on the chance to go on and challenge for a national title for the first time.

And after just two four-round bouts since, the owner of Tricky's Gym in Blackrod admitted the thought of calling time on his ring career did cross his mind.

But he stuck with it and now he has another shot to kick-start his career on a big bill at Manchester Arena on Saturday night that features Mancunian Terry Flanagan, Bolton-based Liam Smith and double Olympic champion Nicola Adams.

And light middleweight Godding is fully focused on success against Wythenshawe's 'Jimmy' Kilrain Kelly.

He told The Bolton News: "This is a big chance for me and I want to take it with both hands.

"It is a big bill at the Manchester Arena and an opportunity for me to get back up to the level where I was.

"It has been a long time coming for me after my first loss to Gary Corcoran which, in hindsight, came too soon for me with just three week's training for that one at late notice.

"I was supposed to fight Craig Cunningham in October but then he fought Anthony Ogogo instead and won.

"Then I had been pencilled in to fight Ben Hall in November for a title but he fought Carson Jones and lost.

"I was stressing out that I may not get a big fight again – I have had just two four-rounders since losing to Corcoran as warm-up bouts.

"I did contemplate quitting because it looked like it was not going to happen again after so long out.

"The shoulder was okay again but from being second in the British rankings behind Brian Rose, I had slipped to 30th or 40th and had to start from scratch.

"I was treading water but now I have a shot again."

Godding knows he has to seize his chance if he is to regain the status that saw him fight on the undercard of both Amir Khan and Wladimir Klitschko before his shoulder injury four years ago.

And he admits he cannot afford to waste it at the age of 32.

"I have a family and a business to run at the gym and I am not getting any younger.

"But I have been a professional for 10 years and am still ambitious.

"I have been patient but this is my chance to get back into people's minds.

"Training has gone well and now it is about getting out there in the ring and proving myself again."