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Rusty Wilton ready for final charge following comeback win

Luke Wilton [17(7)-5(2)] made a successful return to the ring after just over a year at the weekend.

The flyweight had not fought since his British title eliminator loss to Charlie Edwards, but returned on a Team Wilton card at the Shorts Sports and Social Centre in Belfast.

Here ‘Winky’ took on game journeyman Brett Fidoe in a rust-shaker of a four rounder and scored a competitive 40:38 points win.

There were no declarations of intent following the win, with Wilton acknowledging afterwards that he still has a long way to go before he is in top fighting shape again

He described how “it was just a step on the ladder – and I barely got on it to be honest!”

“There was some rust there! It took three rounds to even chip some of the rust off. I’m just glad to be back at and get the wheels in motion.”

His Worcestershire opponent was an encouragingly game foe that made for an entertaining fight. This pleased Wilton who explained that “I knew Brett Fidoe would come to fight. He’s nobody’s mug at the end of the day. He comes and has a go. He was awkward enough I found in there, uses the shoulder well and holds, uses the blindside.”

“He had a go, he was throwing punches. He wasn’t just there to stand and do nothing, he came and had a right go, I respect him for that.”

Looking ahead, Wilton believes he is still in rebuilding mode and he is looking to gradually increase the intensity. The 28 year old outlined that “I need to get back out again and do an eight rounder, four rounds there was nothing, I didn’t really get out of any gears – I couldn’t get out of any gears. I started to come in to the fight in the third and fourth – as always, it always takes me a couple of rounds to get going.”

“I could have done six tonight, but I was just happy to get back, get the win, and get the rounds under my belt.”

“I hope to do an eight rounder in May, maybe June, and really shake the rust off against someone decent, somone who’s coming to have a real row with me. We’re back better and stronger in May or June.”

“I’ll give myself till 30, I’m 30 next May, I’m going to have a year at it, a right crack at it, and then I’ll walk away.”

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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