Time is running out for Bobby Wood

Walsall middleweight Bobby Wood has admitted time is running out for him to fulfil his dream of becoming a boxing superstar.

The 29-year-old was tipped for big things as an amateur before quitting boxing for seven years, falling out of love with the sport after the death of father Joe in 2002.

His Dad was a respected figure who founded the Pleck amateur club in Walsall, the same gym that has churned out Sam Padgett and British Masters featherweight champion Chris Male for the pro ranks in recent years.

Wood junior eventually came back to the sport last year with the goal of fulfilling his father's last wish that his son would become a boxing champion, making his debut with a win Gavin Brook in an emotional night at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in April 2009.

But it's been a stop-start 14 months since his pro bow, beating the late Ernie Smith at the Civic two months later before - after eight months out with a torn ligament in his shoulder - losing to Sam Smart inside two rounds in Trowbridge in March.

Now it's back to the Civic to face an opponent who will be fighting for family pride on September 5 - Nathan Brook is the younger brother of Gavin, who Wood beat on his debut.

And the one-time amateur prodigy is only too aware that the clock is ticking on his boxing career.

He said: "You know in yourself that you have only got so long left and I have lost about seven or eight years of my career, if I hadn't I would probably be about ready to retire by now!

"It's always rankled with me during that time, sitting back and watching people on TV that I used to box with going for major titles.

"Lads like Stevie McGuire, who who went for the British belt a few years back - I beat him as an amateur, dropped him twice. Matthew Macklin's another, at one point I was winning more amateur titles than he was.

"It's given me the determination to get back into boxing, looking at these lads and thinking 'that should have been me'."

Wood is also ready for a full assault from Brook, who will be looking to do what his older brother couldn't and take out the Black Country boxer.

The younger sibling definitely looks for the knockout - in two pro fights he has won and then lost inside a round.

But Wood plans to simply outbox him on the day.

He said: "Brawling isn't my style, but I know this lad is going to come for a war.

"His record straight away that he is going to come out and start swinging. I am not even going to entertain it, I will hit and move and make him look stupid.

"And if he's been knocked out once, he can be knocked out again."

For tickets, call the call the box office on 0870 320 7000 or promoter Paul 'PJ' Rowson on 07976 283 157.

The show will also be broadcast online live on pay-per view at a cost of just £2.99, through Hatton TV at www.hattonboxing.tv.