KELVIN Young is determined to treat his return to the ring like a title fight despite his IBO Intercontinental title will not be on the line against Tomas Kugler.

The Penhill fighter was last in the ring when he claimed his belt against Bulgaria’s Alexey Ribchev in December and is back in action in an eight-round contest against Czech Kugler on March 14.

Although this latest contest is designed to prime Young for a title defence later in the year, the super-middleweight is supremely focussed and is refusing to look too far ahead.

“He’s had a lot of fights and has loads of experience while travelling around Europe to fight and with all that experience he is sure to bring a lot to the table,” he said.

“I’m expecting a tough fight because he has 15 wins on his record, nine by knockout, and he will come and have a go so I need to be at my best.

“At the end of the day there are no easy fights in the pro game and I won’t be taking him lightly. Every fight I have at this level has to be like a title bout to me and I have to bring my best to the table.

“He’s got all the experience because he did a lot of amateur stuff too and you can’t buy experience at all so sharing a ring with someone like that is only going to make me a better boxer.”

Young is once again training with Richard Farnan, who guided him through his victory over Ribchev, and the Penhill fighter is pleased with how preparations are going.

“Training’s been going well and I’ve been getting some good sparring too, which helps sharpen me up. I’m going up to Sheffield next week to work with some of the top amateurs there so it should be good.

“It’s only two weeks until the fight now and I’m feeling really good.”

Tickets for the KM Promotions show, which will also feature fellow Swindonians Ryan Martin, Joe Beeden, Ben Fitch and Lawrence Bennett, are priced at £30 for unreserved seats and £60 for VIP ringside seats.

For full details go to www.kmpromotions.co.uk.