A former British MMA champion has announced his comeback after a four year break from bareknuckle boxing.

Stanlee Wilson, 36, from Slough will be competing against former world champion Jodie Meikle at the O2 arena on October 16.

 “He isn’t the opponent I would have picked for my first fight back,” admitted Wilson, “but we are fighters, and this is what we do.

“I know he’s a former world champion, but I won’t be calling out people with the belts afterwards.

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“I still think I’m two or three fights away from getting my name mentioned in title contention.”

Wilson has fought for world honours before, losing to Christian Evans, and has been out of the ring since a draw with Craig Amer at the O2 Arena in October 2018.

He added: “I lost my love for the sport and I wasn’t enjoying it anymore.

“After the fight I told (co-owner) Jim (Freeman): ‘I’m done. I can’t sell tickets to people and then not do what I said I would do. I feel like I’m stealing from them.’ “I took myself away, regrouped and now I have the hunger back.”

Wilson says his return is driven by the memory of his biggest fan, Billy Traynor.