York's former triple boxing champion Henry Wharton is poised to climb back into the ring.

The former undefeated British, Commonwealth and European super-middleweight champion is to sell up his thriving fish and chip shop to prepare for a sensational canvas comeback as a trainer.

And he said he had not entirely ruled out a possible return to gloves duty himself almost two years since he last fought, although admitting the passing on of his ring-craft to younger prospects was his prime ambition.

The 33-year-old Wharton, whose only defeats in a glittering nine-year career as a professional were in three world title contests, is now on the lookout for premises in York where he can open up a gymnasium to further his fledgling training career.

The man who put York smack bang into the middle of world boxing has got the big-punch buzz back again after guiding two of his cousins to success in the professional arena.

He has recently been honing the skills of London-based brothers Georgie and Reg Robshaw, who are cousins of Wharton.

Under the York ring-master's guidance the duo have had three wins out of three fights and their success has convinced Wharton that his future hinges on a return to the world's most painful sport. Hence the £169,500 sale of 'Henry's Plaice', the Blossom Street-based fish and chip shop that he has run for almost two years.

While the frying and battering venture has been a profitable success for Wharton it has taken up all of his time. Itching for a return to the sport he graced since he was a teenager first as an amateur before turning professional in 1990 he has decided to sell up.

Approaches from many connections within the fight game about whether he would consider moving into training have further convinced him of the desire to return to boxing from which he retired in January 1999 three months after what proved his last bout, a stoppage of Ukrainian light-heavyweight Konstantin Okhrey at York's Barbican Centre.

In that scrap Wharton suffered a severely cut eye received, which KO'd a possible history-making three-title clash against Leeds light-heavyweight Crawford Ashley. It was then Wharton hung up his gloves.

Today he told the Press of the yearn to return. "I wanted a complete break.

"Now I feel by going back I can give something to a sport that has always been good to me, especially as a coach," he enthused.

"The training with my cousins has gone really well. I think they've got a good future ahead of them.

"In my career I was right at the sharp end and I believe that I can give a little bit of insight from what I have done. I feel I am qualified enough and if I can pass that knowledge along then I will do some youngsters some good."

Of a possible comeback as a fighter Wharton admitted that at the age of 33 time may be against him. But as he surveyed the current state of British boxing he said the light-heavyweight division was devoid of talent and personality.

"You always think you can do it and it is at the back of my mind. It looks like I will be back in the ring again, but maybe I won't be on the receiving side this time."

Hunters the estate agents are marketing Wharton's fish and chip shop, plus premises above, as a going concern at £169,500.

Updated: 12:38 Thursday, May 03, 2001