In March, Tyler Goodjohn considered hanging up his gloves after breaking his hand just weeks before one of the biggest fights of his career.

Ely Standard: St Ives Boxing Club Open Day, and Boxathon, Tyler Goodjohn in training,St Ives Boxing Club Open Day, and Boxathon, Tyler Goodjohn in training, (Image: Archant)

Six months later, the Wentworth puncher is back, in the shape of his life at 147 pounds and is gunning for the belt he so heartbreakingly missed out on in the spring.

Standing in his way is current English welterweight champion Johnny Garton - a man who has only suffered one defeat in 19 fights - but ‘El Tornado’ is relaxed ahead of Saturday’s battle, which many boxing fans believe has the potential to be the fight of 2016.

“I feel really good and I’m up for it,” he said. “Obviously I’ve gone up a weight and I haven’t had to kill myself in training and lose stupid weight.

“I’ve never really had any time off before fights because I still had to train days before so it’s nice to be able to relax. It makes a massive difference.”

Goodjohn is fresh from completing a gruelling 14-week training camp but, despite many sleepless nights after becoming a father for the first time, says he is in top shape and is ready to go toe-to-toe in his bid to become a two-weight English champion.

“It’s been the best camp I’ve ever had,” he said.

“I’ve hated every minute of it – but in a good way.

“My body has been in absolute bits and I’ve put myself through hell, but it’s nice to come away from it knowing I’ve given everything.”

Tyler will be in familiar territory on Saturday; he returns to London’s York Hall for the seventh time in his career, and says that the support from his loyal band of followers that will join him in the capital – the Fen Army – will be invaluable in his quest to bring the belt home.

“I’ve had so many people coming to me asking for tickets,” said Goodjohn.

“The support has been awesome; I’ve got over 200 people going down and Johnny’s got 300 so it’s going to be a great atmosphere.”

Goodjohn, who has been out of action since his points victory over Ivo Gogosevic back in December, says he turned down opportunities of a keep-busy fight ahead of his clash with Garton as he only wants to test himself against the best in the business.

He said: “People were telling me after I broke my hand that I should have a warm-up fight but I knew I wouldn’t be able to get up for a fight like that.

“I don’t want to be wasting my time going against people who everyone expects me to beat – I want to be in there against fighters who have won titles.”

Both Goodjohn and Garton have garnered reputations as middle-of-the-ring brawlers, but Goodjohn wants to prove he’s more than just an inside fighter at the York Hall in two days’ time.

“Johnny has said that he expects that we’ll meet in the middle of the ring eventually,” he said.

“And at some point I do think we’ll come into the middle and trade and give everyone the entertaining fight they’ve been waiting for, but I also want to prove that I can box.

“Johnny knows what I’m about and he knows that I’ve made a name for myself by being on Sky and winning the English title at super lightweight. It’s going to be a great fight.”