By Elliot Foster

Tony Dodson has been handed a date ahead of his comeback.

The former British super middleweight champion (31-8-1, 15 KOs) and IBO International light heavyweight titlist has been out of the ring since May, but his return date is set.

Dodson, 35, will box at the O2 Arena on January 16, on the undercard of David Haye’s return against Mark De Mori, over eight rounds.

And having had less than five rounds of action since June, 2013, ‘The Warrior’ is excited to lace up the gloves once more.

“I’m excited to get back in there and get back to doing what I do best.

“I lost to Paul Smith and then had a four rounder, had 15 months off and then boxed for just 80 seconds, so I’ve been inactive. But I’m doing things better now than I ever have, so why stop?

“It sounds mad and a lot of people will laugh but I’m looking forward to the camp rather than the fight.

“I’m looking forward to the grind, to getting in, doing the strength work, working on my boxing and eventually getting back to my best.”

Dodson confirmed that he will be up at light heavyweight for the foreseeable future, but a move down in weight can come with the right timing.

“I make light heavyweight easy and will be doing light heavyweight for this fight, but I can make super middleweight.

“But as much as I can make super middleweight comfortably, I need 12 solid weeks of training in order to do it properly, to do it healthily.

“I’ve known about this [fight on the undercard of Haye-De Mori] for months and I should have an opponent in the next couple of weeks. There are a few Australians we’re looking at and we should have one tied down soon.

“I was down in London sparring with [David Haye] two or three weeks ago.

“Honestly, I’ve never felt power like it. He punches like a train. He’s a unit and he’s in this for the long haul. This is not a publicity stunt, he’s back and he wants to win a world heavyweight title again.”

It is highly likely that Dodson will be joined by at least one more of his VB Promotions stable-mates on the same bill, with a further announcement to be made in due course.

Elliot Foster is part of Boxing Scene's UK team. Follow him on Twitter @FreelanceFoz