BRADFORD boxer Darren Tetley feels that he has a lot more to give to the sport ahead of a new fighting year, if his mind and body allow him to do so.

The Holme Wood fighter is still nursing a hand injury which he sustained in his match up with Dom Hunt back in September, and despite seeing a couple of injury specialists, Tetley still doesn't have a definitive answer on what injury he's suffered. He hopes to have more clarity on the situation by the end of next week following another meeting with a hand specialist.

In spite of his injury setback, Tetley is back in training and eager to push ahead with his plans for a March bout.

Speaking to the T&A, he said: "I'm back in the gym after Christmas and also back sparring. I trained today (Friday) and I did feel my hand go a little bit, but nowhere near as bad as it has been. There's definitely something wrong with it but I don't know what is it yet; hopefully it will be cleared up and I'll have more of an understanding on Thursday once I've met with the hand specialist.

"Realistically, it's probably going to be March time when I look to get back into the ring. I've said to my trainer that in January I'm dieting, training full on and giving everything to be ready for a March bout. On the other hand, if it gets to the end of January and I'm still feeling fed up about the whole situation, I can walk away from the sport knowing I've given it my all in January."

Tetley added: "I've said to my wife and trainer that I've still got a lot to prove, and I know that inside I'm not finished even though a lot of people are writing me off. I've still got some big wins in me. It's now about correcting the smaller details to make sure I don't make similar mistakes to what I have done in the past.

"I'm 30 in July so I've still got half a year left in my twenties. Yes, I'm getting older and I perhaps can't do some of the stuff I might have done when I was 20, but I am still at a good age for a fighter. Knowing where I've gone wrong in the past, I know full well I can be better than what I've already been.

" I'm not that saying that I would have won the fights I lost in if I'd have changed certain aspects of my game, as I wasn't doing that then. But I can now look back to them fights and make sure I improve, and that will only help me to grow as a fighter."

Tetley lost both of his fights in 2022, first against Ekow Essuman at Wembley Stadium on the Tyson Fury versus Dillian Whyte undercard, and Dom Hunt edged the Bradford star on points back in September. Although he didn't come away from 2022 with a victory, Tetley admitted that in some ways it was his best year to date.

He said: "Results wise, last year was probably my worst to date, however, the fact I fought on such a big stage at Wembley Stadium is a massive deal. As far as what I've got out the year and what I've managed to achieve, I think it's probably been the best year I've had as a fighter.

"To fight at Wembley is one thing, but to fight against the level of opponent that I did in Ekow Essuman is another.

"I could have boxed a journeyman but I never take the easy option and I always look to test myself, and I did that to the highest level-something I'm extremely proud of."