James Hare has fixed his sights on a May comeback after undergoing treatment to clear up an eye complaint.

The former WBF welterweight champion has been taking his time since the first loss of his pro career three months ago.

But his recovery from the blow of being stopped by tricky Mexican Cosme Rivera has been hampered by a problem with his left eye.

Hare developed a myopian cyst, a small growth on the eyeball, which he has had to have removed before it became infected.

He said: "I've had it for the last three or four weeks. It's like a little marble thing and makes your tears greasy.

"Although there is no pain, if you don't get rid of it there is the risk of an infection.

"Tommy Gilmour and Chris Aston both know about it and it's not a problem. I spoke to the doctor at the boxing the other week and he recommended I had it scraped out under local anaesthetic before it causes me any trouble."

Hare's next objective is still to be firmed up. The plan is to ease him back with a couple of fights before the end of the season and then look which way to go in the autumn.

Hare said: "I don't have anything concrete yet but there is a good chance I could be on the Jason Cook bill in Wales on May 1. That's about six weeks off which would be perfect in terms of training.

"I'm in the gym working towards that date and I'm trying to get down to the weight nice and comfortably. I'm looking for something over six or eight rounds and then to hopefully squeeze in another fight before the summer time.

"If all goes well, we'll then go for a title towards the back end of the year, although nothing has been decided.

"I've needed this time out because last year was busy, a bit too busy as it turned out. I've been bang at it for some time now and over the last few months we probably pushed the boat out a bit too much.

"It's a fine line between keeping active and trying to fight too often and I think we crossed it. But I've learned from that and I've still got every confidence in my ability to come back as strong as ever.

"I'm still fresh enough and it's not as if I've been taking a battering. And my eye should be no problem at all."