Sidcup fighter Billy Saunders plans to follow his cousin to the top by announcing his comeback after almost seven years away from the ring.

Saunders is back in action at the Camden Centre on July 18 and istargeting the middleweight titles currently held by his cousin, Billy-Joe Saunders, who next month looks to add the European title to the British and Commonwealth titles he already holds.

The 27-year-old Sidcup ace said: “Seeing Billy-Joe do so well has made me want to come back.
 
“I speak to Billy-Joe all the time and he is over the moon I’m coming back. I will have to go over to his gym for some sparring soon.”   

Saunders is training with Steve Barrett, who coached him when he was an amateur at Eltham and District ABC.

“Steve and I go a long way back,” said Saunders.

“I started boxing with him when I was nine years old. I had 68 amateur bouts, won gold medals and reached three national finals with Steve.

“I turned pro with Frank Warren and won my debut, but things didn’t work out for me.

“My wife had a baby and I fell out of love with boxing, but I’ve been watching a few British champions on television lately and I used to school them when we sparred.

“That helped me get back down the gym.

“I’m sparring well and I feel I’ve got the right team around me.”

Saunders is managed by Mickey Helliet and the Sidcup boxer is more than happy with his choice.

“Mickey is definitely the right manager for me,” he explained.

“He puts on a lot of shows and can get me up there quickly. I can’t wait to get in there, dust off a few cobwebs and then move onwards and upwards.

“I missed boxing and I’m loving it again now.”

Meanwhile, Belvedere’s Jack Dishart, who is also on the bill at the Camden Centre on July 18, reckons he's heading for title contention after signing with a new manager.

Dishart has been out of the ring since February and the 21 year-old is set to get his career moving after joining Helliet’s growing stable.

The Belvedere youngster is unbeaten in five fights and says his new manager believes he can go on to win honours.

Dishart said: “Mickey says he wants me to get to ten wins and then push on and go for titles.

“He wants me to go for the southern area title, then go on and box for bigger things. He believes I can do it -and so do I.

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Jack Dishart

“Mickey has got a lot of connections, he can get me the right fights at the right time and get me opportunities.

“That’s what I want and why I signed with him.”

Dishart will be targeting lightweight honours having started his professional career campaigning at super-featherweight.

He said: “It was getting hard to make the weight, so I decided it is time to step up.

“I’m still in good shape, but I’ve just naturally got bigger. I’m training to fight now rather than training to lose weight.

“I can’t wait to fight next month.”

He added: “I was supposed to box in May, but my opponent pulled out two days before the show and they couldn't find a replacement. I was gutted.

“I had trained hard, sold tickets and it was all for nothing.

“Now I have a well established promoter behind me I can focus on my boxing safe in the knowledge the business side of things will be taken care of.”

Tickets for the show at the Camden Centre on July 18 can be reserved by calling 07599 379455.

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