ALMOST four years ago Swindon boxer Jamie Cox began his professional career at London’s O2 Arena with his father Tony by his side.

It was a debut to make any parent proud as the former Walcot amateur boxer won convincingly on points.

Tonight the undefeated 24-year-old returns to the scene which launched his career fully expecting to notch a 15th straight victory.

But for Jamie is it likely to be a bitter-sweet evening with his ‘best mate’ no longer in his corner cheering him on.

Tony had been to each of his son’s professional bouts but following his tragic and sudden death earlier this year, Jamie enters the ring on Saturday evening without his father’s ‘steadying influence’ for the first time in his career.

Jamie had been due to return to action in March but following Tony’s passing the fight was immediately called off.

“It has been a very difficult and emotional time for me,” said Jamie, whose fight with Marcus Portman this weekend is his first in 14 months.

“It all happened a couple of weeks before I was due to fight and I couldn’t get my head around it, so I needed time out to take it all in.

“It is going to be emotional on Saturday without my dad there but I want to win for him.”

And although Jamie will be focused on the job in hand on Saturday night, he says he will also be thinking about his father and trying to win for him.

“This performance will be for my dad, I want to put on a really good show for him,” said Jamie.

“He went to every one of my professional fights and most of my amateur fights but I know he’ll be there in my corner in spirit.

“He was always there for me on fight night. He was my mate, my best mate and was my steadying father figure. He always had wise words for me before a fight and was my calming influence whereas my mum is always a bag of nerves.

“He was laid back but always had faith in me and just told me to go out and do him proud. He always said he was proud of me.

“He had been there with me in every fight and, in my heart, he will still be there when I fight.

“My Mum and Dad always supported me. I used to get in a few scrapes at school and my parents took me to the boxing gym. Walcot was the closest to our house and, without that, who knows where I would be today. I am thankful for that and I have just got to pay them back with a win now.”