Donovan Smillie is bursting to step back into the ring after four years in the boxing wilderness.

Bradford-born Smillie will appear on a Salford bill on Saturday, July 17 - his first fight since April 2006.

The 34-year-old has not fought since slugging out a six-round draw with Rob Burton at Leeds Town Hall.

Now, two managers later, he is ready to resume a career which peaked with the British Masters and English titles.

Smillie, who turned professional 11 years ago, will resume at his usual super-middle fighting weight and admits the lengthy time-out has made him hungrier than ever.

He said: “I’ve been in the gym all that time, just waiting for my chance. I’ve still got the buzz and I think the rest has done me well.

“I’ve been boxing on and off since I was 14, so it’s done me good. Now I can say that Donovan Smillie is back.”

Smillie still works with long-time trainer Nigel Hardman but left manager Joe Pennington to join Oliver Harrison’s gym in Salford.

He added: “I was being messed about. I kept being promised fights but nothing happened.

“So I changed managers and got this one straight away.”

Smillie, who works weekends with a mental health unit in Heaton, earned a Bradford fanbase with his exciting style on Sunday shows at Pennington’s night club and won the British Masters belt with a three-round thrashing of Mike Duffield.

He also lifted the English middleweight belt in 2004 with a stoppage success over home-town fighter Roddy Doran in Shrewsbury.

His explosive clash with former ABA champion Matthew Thirlwall at London’s York Hall was voted one of the best domestic fights of 2006.

Tickets, costing £30 for unreserved seats and £50 ringside, for the show at Fit City Broughton are available from 07977-430072.

The doors open at 6pm, with the first fight an hour later.