SWINDON welterweight Ryan Martin says he’s making changes between his ears ahead of his ring return this month, writes MATTHEW BOZEAT.

Defeats to Michael McKinson and Craig Morris were setbacks for the 24-year-old – but he’s convinced he will put them behind him and win honours.

Martin launches what he hopes will be a big year at the York Hall in Bethnal Green on Saturday, April 28.

He said: “By the end of the year, I want to be challenging for titles.

“I know I have the skills and the determination to do well, but those defeats showed me I’m not the complete fighter yet.

“I’m working with a strength and conditioning coach and mentally, I need to do some work.

“I don’t believe I lost those fights because of anything technical or physical. It was just that mentally, I struggled on the night.

“I didn’t have that tunnel vision, I didn’t feel fully focused and that’s what let me down.

"If you tell people you are working on the mental side of your game, they think you’re mentally weak. I’m not mentally weak, I just need to perform at my best consistently.”

Martin says the loss to Morris could prove to be a turning point.

“He is a big, strong welterweight and pretty tough, but I knew all that, was comfortable with it and knew what to do," said Martin.

“But on the night, it got to me and I need to work on that.

“I did make mistakes in that fight. I hurt him early and was waiting to land the big shot, when I should have been trading with him, trying to stop the pressure.”

Tickets for the show at the York Hall are available from 07983 630029.