AFTER almost six years out of the ring, Tariq Quaddas is ready to make his return to professional boxing with a bang.

Having moved into the paid ranks under the promotional arm of Frank Warren at the tender age of 18, Quaddas had two fights, losing the last, before disappearing from the sport.

Now settled in Swindon and training out of the Horseshoe Gym in Greenbridge Road, the 23-year-old cruiserweight will tackle Devon-based debutant Cristian Gomez on Keith Mayo’s show at the Oasis Leisure Centre tomorrow night (Friday).

Yet despite his absence from the ring, Quaddas, now under the guidance of trainer Richard Farnan, is itching to get his career back on track.

He said: “I have been training since I was 10-years-old, I didn’t want it to go any longer without me fighting.

“I’m only 23, there is still plenty of time for me to achieve my goals.”

And Farnan, who has guided Swindon super-middleweight Kelvin Young to the IBO intercontinental title, believes that he has a real prospect on his hands.

“Tariqhas got talent, he really has,” Farnan said. ““He hurts when he hits, there is no other way to describe it.

“I have got big hopes for him to honest with you, he is quite a talent.

“It is really exciting, because it is kind of like his second debut, because he turned professional in 2008 under Frank Warren, he only had two fights and he kind of wasn’t really feeling it for the second fight, and it didn’t go to plan.

“He took it last minute when he wasn’t training and he knew that he made a mistake.

“He disappeared for a few years, he has got himself settled down and sorted out and is now fully focused on what he wants to achieve.”

And while it may be folly to start talking about possible belts for Quaddas, he has got targets for his career.

Quaddas said “It is about getting the fights in and staying active, get my rounds up to six, eight and 10 and eventually start knocking on the door for title shots.

“Hopefully by the end of next because by then I should have a bit of experience and then I can be a worthy challenger.”

But before he can start looking to far into the future, he knows that he has to get past Gomez.

While the Plympton-based fighter is making his first outing, Quaddas says that he is expecting a tough test.

“He had nine amateur fights and has won six,” the cruiserweight said. “He is a come forward strong fighter, but I’ll be ready for him, whatever he brings to the table.

“I have seen one of his fights on You Tube, he is pretty much straightforward, he likes throwing his hooks and upper cuts, so it’ll be nice to catch those shots and return them.

“From myself, I’m looking to make a statement. A lot people have been talking about this back in my hometown of Peterborough and they want to see something special. It has been a long time.”