BRADFORD boxer Hamed Ghaz is set to return to the ring at the end of this month, for the first time since losing his English lightweight title bout against Reece Mould in February.

His fight in Oldham on November 25 will be a more low-key affair, but Ghaz feels it is just what he needs, ahead of a potentially money-spinner out in Abu Dhabi in January.

It has been a frustrating period out of action for the Bradfordian, who is getting sick of boxers, including himself, being let down by late postponements, especially on small hall shows.

Afghanistan-born Ghaz (18-1) told the T&A: "It's really bad how often that happens at short notice.

"A couple of lads at the gym I go to have just put themselves through eight weeks at a training camp, only for their fight to be postponed the week before, then cancelled altogether.

"It really affects us fighters when that happens as we train so hard, and put in a lot of time, effort and money to prepare for bouts.

"You'll often take time off work to fully focus too, so it does get boxers down when that happens, it's pretty heartbreaking."

It was pretty heartbreaking for Ghaz when he lost a tight, thrilling contest to Mould by unanimous decision in Rotherham earlier this year too.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Current WBA World Featherweight champion Leigh Wood is the only man to have ever beaten Reece Mould professionally, but Ghaz almost inflicted a second loss on the Doncaster boxer in February.Current WBA World Featherweight champion Leigh Wood is the only man to have ever beaten Reece Mould professionally, but Ghaz almost inflicted a second loss on the Doncaster boxer in February. (Image: PA.)

That was by far the biggest fight of the Bradford man's career to date, but having to take a step down for this upcoming fight in Oldham does not overly concern him.

He said: "It is hard to have to do in some ways, but it's not in others.

"The only reason I'm taking this small hall November fight is because I've not been active for so long.

"I need a tune-up fight like this to get back into the swing of things, because I'm out of position now.

"I was actually offered the chance to fight against a couple of well-known boxers, but because I've been out for so long, I didn't think it was the ideal thing to do.

"I didn't want to be taking a bout like that against an undefeated boxer without a great training camp and without this tune-up fight first."

Ghaz has appreciated his time off on this occasion, something he has struggled with in the past.

The 27-year-old told the T&A: "It's great to have a fight night to look forward to again after a very long time.

"But it's been nice to have some time to myself, and to spend that with family and friends.

"I've done some travelling too, and it was really good to have the time to do that, but I'm itching to get back in the ring now."

And Ghaz might get the chance to combine being in the ring with travelling in a couple of months.

He told the T&A: "I'm already in talks about having a big fight on January 13 out in Abu Dhabi.

"If it comes off, I'll be going up against an unbeaten lightweight from Dubai called Bader Samreen, who's had nine professional fights so far and won eight of them by knockout.

"For all that's potentially very exciting though, for now I'm not looking past my fight in Oldham at the end of this month."