Martin Gethin starts injury recovery

Walsall's Martin Gethin could be back in full training by the end of the month after being given the green light to start his rehabilitation from back surgery.

After months of waiting, the two-time English lightweight champion has finally had keyhole surgery on a long-standing back problem and will start light training again next week.

Barring any response, doctors have told Gethin he can go full pelt again in the gym after another two weeks.

The 27-year-old has been out of the ring for 14 months and was forced to relinquish his English crown as a result.

In his absence, the British lightweight title has changed hands twice with Gavin Rees and then Anthony Crolla - with the title vacant - stopping John Watson to claim the belt.

The British Boxing Board of Control have now put out to purse bids a title fight between Crolla and Willie Limond, who has boxed at everywhere from super featherweight to light welterweight.

Crolla himself stepped from super feather to win the belt and must first come through a 12-rounder against Osumanu Akaba in Wigan tonight, for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental crown.

Derry Mathews is currently in possession of the English title Gethin never lost, after beating Midlands champion Amir Unsworth, but has boxed most of his career at featherweight.

After watching all of that unfold from the sidelines, Gethin is convinced he is the only natural lightweight of the lot.

He said: "I can't believe how the lightweight division has been since I have been gone.

"I don't think there's much threat to me at all in there, I am definitely one of the best in that division at the moment.

"I can't fault Crolla really, for him to move up just to have a shot at the British title and then win it, maybe he has moved to that weight properly.

"But I can't see how Willie Limond has wriggled his way in there, what has he done recently to warrant it?

"I can't see Derry Mathews doing much more, either, he doesn't seem too bad but his chin is too cracked.

"I can't wait to get in there, I have had a long time off, and I want to win that British title."

Gethin's in-ring return is not likely to come before the autumn and he would prefer a warm-up fight first, over six or eight rounds.

He said: "It would be better, rather than to be thrown in at the deep end.

"But, if it came round and I felt good, I would take a title shot straight away."