JOE Hughes has wrapped himself in cotton wool this week as he prepares to return to the ring after more than a year out of action.

The 23-year-old, from Malmesbury, will be stepping up to welterweight at the Trowbridge Civic Centre on Saturday night when he takes on 26-year-old Lancashire fighter William Warburton, more than a year on since his victory over Mark McKray in Swindon.

Hughes is confident that his injury problems are behind him and says that ring rust is likely to be his only major worry when he brings his enforced sabbatical to an end in Trowbridge.

“I feel fit and I’ve trained well so my preparations have been as good as they can be,” said Hughes, who trains at Paddy John’s gym in Bristol.

“We’ve tapered things down a bit in training this week so there’s no chance of me getting injured and I’ve been taking loads of vitamin C to make sure that I don’t catch a cold.

“It’s obviously been a long time since I’ve fought and a year is the longest lay-off I’ve had since I started boxing when I was 11.

“But I’ve had seven pro fights and 70 amateur fights so it’s not new to me.

“There probably will be a bit of apprehension from me and there might be a bit of ring rust but apart from that, I’m in great condition.

“It’s going to be tough because he’s an experienced kid and he’s fought at higher weight divisions than me but I think I can get the win.”

FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS, REPORTS & PICTURES SEE THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport