Refocused Kays seals ring return

MAY RETURN: Jon Kays.

Boxing: JON Kays is getting back into the ring.

After a winter of agonising over his next move, Hurst Cross-based local favourite Kays will return to action on a VIP Promotions show at the new Oldham Sports Centre on May 21.

Kays (32), clearly needed time to reenergise himself after a stunning WBO lightweight title defeat by Manchester’s Adrian Gonzalez six months ago.

His professional record is still impressive, with only five defeats in 27 pro bouts, so former amateur star ‘2-Smokes’ and his trainer Darren McCarrick are ready to give it another crack.

Kays told the Chronicle: “I just needed to do this. Boxing is my life and I just didn’t want to call it a day yet. To be honest I’d be lost without it.

“I’ve always loved the training and fight nights of course. I’ve been back in full training for five weeks now and I feel great. To be honest I feel better, physically and mentally, than I have for years.

“I’ve got the bit between my teeth and I can wait for May 21 now.”

Whether Kays can fire himself back into English, or even the British title reckoning again remains to be seen. He is a former English super-featherweight champ, but lost a British title tilt agonisingly to Gary Sykes in May, 2014.

Kays added: “For now all I am thinking about is May 21. That’s the sole focus. If I can get back with a victory we’ll maybe see what’s on offer then, but I’ve just got to get back to winning ways first. I’m grateful to my manager Steve Wood for getting me on in Oldham again.“