Marcus Portman's plan for Jamie Cox

West Bromwich's Marcus Portman believes Jamie Cox is the one taking the gamble as the two fighters prepare to make their respective returns to the ring.

Portman will be a part of the next big Sky Box Office bill at London's O2 Arena on May 21, in an eight-rounder against the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Cox is unbeaten but is boxing up at light middleweight from welter for the first time, against a former British and Commonwealth title challenger and one-time WBF world champion.

Both have been out of action for a long period - Portman hasn't fought since drawing a Midlands title fight with Tyan Booth in October 2009, while Cox has been out for a year.

The Swindon star was banned by the British Boxing Board of Control while serving a suspended sentence for assault, but was due to return to the ring in February.

Four weeks before the fight, his father Tony was found dead in a stream, so his comeback was postponed.

Now Portman has been picked as his opponent for Frank Warren's next super-show and the Black Country fighter is confident of springing a shock.

He said: "It's more of a gamble for him, I have been with undefeated fighters before and took their '0' way from them, so it's nothing new to me. I have turned up before as the underdog and done a job.

"It will be tough, he's 14-0, but I am confident I can do a job on him still. He's stepping up to light middleweight, where I have boxed for years, so I should be bigger than him.

"I sparred Jamie a couple of years ago for a couple of rounds and it was quite even, so I know what he is about.

"He's a front-foot fighter who is aggressive, but his defence is non-existent and he cuts quite easily, so it will be interesting."