BOLTON boxer Jack Cullen believes he has only just caught up from a building accident which set his career back.

The Little Lever middleweight is making a name for himself with just one defeat in 12 bouts since turning professional 18 months ago.

But the 24-year-old from Little Lever believes he could have been at the same level much earlier had he not suffered bad injuries when he was worked as a scaffolder during his amateur boxing days.

Cullen, who is preparing for his next outing at Manchester's Victoria Warehouse on May 5, recalled: "I fell off a ladder, broke my wrist, punctured my lung and did my knee cap in.

"I was out of boxing for two years.

“It definitely held me back, I’d be well up the rankings now if that hadn’t have happened, but it’s done.

"I’ve worked hard to make up for lost time and I’m back to where I should have been.”

The fight on May 5 will be Cullen's first since losing to Irishman Roy Sheahan in the final of the Irish Last Man Standing tournament last month – a fight which came a week after an impressive ninth straight victory as a professional against Alistair Warren at the Bolton Whites Hotel, which he won with a fourth-round knockout.

And the man nicknamed Little Lever Meat Cleaver is already lining up more fights, and expects to headline an event at the Reebok Stadium on June 16.

He wants that one to be another eight-rounder, or even 10 rounds, as he looks to step up to bigger and longer bouts.

“It’s time to be building up the rounds," he said.

"I’ve fought my journeymen and to be honest I don’t want to fight any more. I want to fight people who’ve got something on the line.

“I want to be in the top 20 by the end of the year.

"I don’t really mind who I fight, I’ll fight anyone, I honestly would.”

Tickets for the fight at the Victoria Warehouse are are available, starting at £35.