BACK in business boxer Jamie Warters is poised for a long-awaited return to the ring after linking up with the man who guided Paul Ingle to world glory.

Warters, once rated one of the light-heavyweight division's top prospects, has joined forces with Hull-based trainer Steve Pollard and his growing stable of prize fighters.

The Evening Press can reveal the Jorvik Warrior will have his first fight under Pollard's tutelage on April 25 at the Willerby Manor Hotel in Hull against an as yet unnamed opponent.

It will be Warters' first fight since he comfortably beat Sheffield's Jason Barker on points in October 2000. That clash with Barker was Warters' first fight in 11 months.

Despite his long absences from the ring, Pollard, who steered Scarborough ring-king Ingle to British, Commonwealth, European and World featherweight titles, is confident he can do the same with Warters.

"I am looking at Jamie Warters being British champion in 14 to 18 months," Pollard told the Evening Press.

"He has got a lot of talent and I believe he will be one of the big flag-bearers in our camp.

"He first came to me in October last year and we have just been getting to know each other over the last few months.

"We have worked well together and I am really confident for the future.

"I have changed a few things. He always had very quick hands but I want him to be more aggressive.

"But he has picked things up no problem and I think there are very exciting times ahead."

Pollard added: "He has been out of the ring for something like two years but back then he was ranked as high as number five in the British light-heavyweight standings.

"He is obviously a very good fighter and has the ability to be a contender and my job is to make him progress back up the rankings.

"We have kept things quiet up to now because we wanted to make sure we could work together. But I like him and he likes the way I train so it should make for a profitable relationship."

Warters, 27, admitted he was simply delighted to be back training and was raring to go as he seeks to get his ring career back on track.

"I just want to take it one step at a time but I'm enjoying my training and can't wait to get back in the ring," he said.

"I got messed around a lot before and I got a bit disillusioned. I love boxing and training but I just couldn't stand all the politics that went with it.

"I spoke to Steve out of the blue really because we have always got on well together. I'm starting to realise just what a good trainer he is and he has a lot of connections.

"He's got a military attitude in training and I don't mind that but he is also a very good technical coach too."

Warters had previously been based in Sheffield, working in the same gym and sharing the same manager, Dennis Hobson, as world-title challenger Clinton Woods.

Warters was a regular sparring partner with Woods, who is due to take on undisputed world light-heavyweight champion Roy Jones, recognised as the best pound for pound fighter on earth, in May.

Before linking up with Hobson, Warters, who boasts a record of ten wins and just one defeat, was aligned to Frank Maloney, the former manager of world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

He now trains with Pollard at the Tornado Gym in Hull alongside another top Scarborough prospect Chris Cooper.

A featherweight like Ingle, Cooper, who previously played football for Pickering Town, has won his first two professional fights by knock-out.

YORK-BASED boxer Lee Stewart walloped his way to a triple-whammy for a Yorkshire Schools' team in Bradford.

The 11-year-old from Clifton, who boxes out of Hunslet Boys' Club in Leeds, gained a unanimous points verdict against North-west team opponent Zak Regan.

Stewart inflicted a standing count of eight on his opponent in the third round and afterwards won the best bout of the night award and the best boxer of the night prize in what was his only his second outing. His debut had also been marked by victory.

Updated: 10:39 Saturday, March 23, 2002