JAMIE Kavanagh turned down a lucrative deal with Golden Boy Promotions, but still believes he can have the boxing Midas touch.

‘The Nuisance’ has fought on some big Stateside cards since turning over with the massive promotional power back in 2010 and with an 18-1-1 record was ready to move to title level.

Oscar De La Hoya and co., who look after the career of Jason Quigley, put a five year deal which outlined a path to World level on the table recently, but the 25 year old fluent Spanish speaker said “gracias pero no gracias”

There was no fall out with Golden Boy, Kavanagh just wanted to return closer to home. After an eventful year outside of the ring- the 2008 World Youth Championship silver medal winner lost his father and had a child- the Crumlin graduate just wanted to be closer to home.

The former Wild Card fighter has relocated to London were he has been working with Jimmy and Mark Tibbs and he is looking forward not to just making a home debut, but making himself a name on this side of the Atlantic.

“To be closer too home. That is the main reason why I have made the decision too move back,” Kavanagh told Irish-boxing.com.

“I recently lost my father which was a big blow too my life and career. I got back on the horse and fought in March on Fox Sports and winning helped me a lot and to do it by stoppage was a real statement. I wasn’t going anywhere or giving up,” he added defiantly.

” I then had a baby three months ago, which made me really think. I’m home now and happier with everything and looking forward getting on with my career this side of the Atlantic,” he continued before discussing the Golden Boy situation.

“I’ll admit the contract was hard to turn down, but a lot had gone on outside the boxing ring that made me think i wouldn’t be happy away so far from home. The contract was good and a plan had been put in place to take certain steps and put me in World title contention. But there’s that old saying ‘a happy fighter is a better fighter ‘and I feel I would be happy is all.

“I spoke with Golden Boy and with Robert Diaz yesterday too explain my decision and why I made it. They were very supportive and wished me luck. It is a door that hasn’t closed, maybe I will go back there one day or fight on a co promotion because they have been good too me and my career.”

Moving from promoters that have as much clout as GGG has punching power might seem strange, but Kavanagh explained his reasons and doesn’t think it will stop him progressing. Even more importantly he thinks he can continue to move forward closer to home and in a home ring. The orthodox lightweight has strong links with MGM and feels he can become a star of the shows they plan to put on in conjunction with Frank Warren and Boxnation.

“Hopefully we can work something out and I can fight at home! I have never fought in my home country the closest I have had to home advantage is fighting in Manchester (on the Khan McCloskey undercard). I remember the days of fighting there as a amateur and have great memories i want to get back there and get it all happening again.”

“I’d like to box in Ireland and the UK. Frank Warren seems too be doing some shows back in Ireland and that would be brilliant. Boxing in Ireland needs the support of a Promotor that can bring TV. With Tv brings bigger names and the boxers in Ireland can build on that. I want be on the front line of them boxers too. I want to be a big name and fight them big names.”

Kavangh has worked with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card and more recently with Joel Diaz as a Timothy Bradley stable mate, but now teams up with the Tibbs brothers, who as Billy Joe Saunders trainers are currently plotting the demise of Ireland’s WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee.

‘The Nuisance’ claims he has fit in well in London and is excited about moving forward.

“I met the Tibbs when I was in Spain and they were training at MGM in Marbella with Billy Joe Saunders. It was hard leaving Joel Diaz. There was no problem between us and he helped me in so many ways, which I’m thankful for. I am happy I can still call him my friend. Adapting with the Tibbs wasn’t hard they opened the doors and made me part the team before I even asked them to train me, which was great. I feel both Jimmy and Mark Tibbs are very hands on trainers not just when your in the boxing gym but outside of it too. They take an interest in you out side of the gym too.”