NICK Blackwell is aiming to be bang on the money when he makes his long-awaited ring return against the glamorous backdrop of Monte Carlo later this month.

The 23-year-old, who has been waiting patiently to make his debut under the Hennessy Sports banner since August, is set to go international for the second time in his career after being announced on the undercard of this month’s ‘Title Tornado’ tournament in Monte Carlo on October 25.

‘Bang Bang’ Blackwell, from Trowbridge, will go toe-to-toe with 40-year-old Belarusian Sergey Khomitsky, who stopped London’s Frank Buglioni to win the WBO European super-middleweight title in April, at the Salle des Étoiles hall at the Sporting Monte Carlo complex.

Khomitsky has also twice been in the ring with Blackwell’s former British middleweight title rival Martin Murray, who tops the Monte Carlo show, which will be broadcast live in the UK on Channel 5, and the Contender Gym man says that he can’t wait to hand ‘the Ghost’ a fright on the French Riviera.

“I’ve known about it for a few weeks. The guy that sorted out the Hennessy deal, William Storey, is close to Martin Murray’s people and he sorted it out,” said Blackwell, pictured.

“It’s going to be six or eight rounds. Maybe for my first fight back, people would have wanted me to go for one a bit easier but I feel ready and I’d fight Martin Murray there if someone asked me to.

“I’ve pretty much had a 15-week training camp for this but I know that it’s going to be tough. He knocked out Frank Buglioni and I thought that he wasn’t far off beating Murray the last time they fought.

“I actually went over there to watch Murray fight (in June) and I’m really excited to be fighting there – it’s great that everyone at home will be able to watch it too.”

The Trowbridge fighter’s only previous European adventure saw him controversially lose to Ukrainian Max Bursak in his own back yard last year. Trainer Mark Kent says the Blackwell camp pushed for a re-match between the two but the 30-year-old had no interest in a Monte Carlo meeting.

“We tried to get a re-match with Bursak but he didn’t want to know,” said Kent. “(Khomitsky) is in between World and European level. Nick needs to be making statements and there would be no point putting him in against someone that he’s going to smash up.

“Nick is still going to be fighting at Bluewater (in Kent, on November 11) and he’s still the mandatory challenger for the British title. Frank Warren’s lot have been in touch about doing a deal.”

Two Contender Gym fighters, super-featherweight Ryan Wheeler and middleweight Rob Brown, will make their pro debuts at the Action Indoor Sports centre in Bristol tomorrow night.

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