Marcus Portman has a two-year plan

West Bromwich's Marcus Portman goes up against Jamie Cox having given himself another two years to make his mark in the boxing world.

Portman is a former WBF world champion but has been beaten – and stopped – challenging for the British and Commonwealth titles.

Now Portman will provide the platform tonight for the first fight at light middleweight of 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Cox, on the big Sky Box Office show at London's 02 Arena.

Young Mutley is also on the bill and both Black Country boxers are the underdogs, in what is supposed to be an eight-round tune-up fight for Swindon's Cox.

But Portman sees it as his opportunity to get right back in the mix with a big win, which could propel him into the race for the domestic titles.

And the clock is ticking for the 30-year-old, who has vowed to retire by the time he turns 33 in September of 2013.

He said: "When boxing has been your life you end up going back and I am not too old to have another crack at it. But I have always said to myself that 33 is the age when I pack in.

"I am in the same frame of my mind as I have always been, I want to win everything. I don't just turn up for fights, I am in there to win.

"The division is still open, anyone could be British champion at the minute, and I have been tested against the best at light middleweight.

"I am always chasing titles and this is a big opportunity for me to get back in the mix. With Cox, he hasn't really fought anybody decent, so I don't think he has been tested yet.

"He's all attack, no defence and loads up quite a bit as well, he's a bit reckless at times, he can bang a bit but I know what he is about."