Penge welterweight star Bradley Skeete says he’ll be fired up to win the vacant WBO European welterweight title when he features on the huge O2 arena show later this month. 

Skeete makes his return to the ring on February 28 in his first fight since his close and controversial points decision loss to domestic rival Frankie Gavin last November in their British and vacant Commonwealth showdown.

And the Penge ace believes he has learnt from the fight and knows he must apply pressure early.

He said: “It was a very, very close fight and I believe I did land the cleaner punches to win.

“But I shouldn’t have left it to the judges to decide and that it something that we have worked on for this fight.

“Gavin’s a very good and clever fighter, but it was more mentally draining than anything. 

“He never troubled me at all and I certainly didn’t feel any power in him. 

“Before the fight he said he was levels above me and I proved him wrong.”

 Skeete added: “I know the mistakes I made in the fight, I should have let my hands go more and earlier in the fight and I was too hesitant. 

“If I’d pressed the fight more I know that the outcome would have been different, but that’s down to experience.

“Like I said, I landed the cleaner and harder shots and if you looked at his face at the end of the fight and then at mine that you’d have thought Gavin had lost.”

The 27-year-old now aims to capture the WBO European crown and secure a top 15 ranking in the WBO by defeating tough Georgian Anzor Gamgebeli as he looks to make big strides in 2015.

Skeete said: “I’m really fired up to win this title and show that I mean business by going straight back into the ring for the WBO European belt and that will get me a WBO ranking which I aim to build on this year,”

“I’d love to have gone unbeaten in my career like Floyd Mayweather Jnr. or Joe Calzaghe, but in this day and age a loss is certainly not the end of a career and if anything I’ve gained more respect.

“I’ve been working hard with my trainer Alan Smith and I believe that you’ll see a very different Bradley Skeete on February 28 at the O2 arena and get back to winning ways.”

Tickets, priced at £50, £75, £100 and £250 + booking fees, are available from eventim.co.uk or by calling 0844 249 1000.

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