SWINDON southpaw Jamie Cox is raring to go as he prepares to make his return to the ring at the beginning of March.

The 32-year-old has been named on the card for Matchroom Italy’s show in Milan on Friday, March 8, with an opponent yet to be confirmed.

After an extensive period away from the ring, Cox is will come back with fresh impetus after revealing he has split from long-term trainer John Costello to link up with Tony Borg in Newport.

Cox will also be stepping down a weight division to middleweight for the eight-round contest, after losing two high-profile fights at super-middleweight to both George Groves and John Ryder respectively.

His outing in March will be his first at middleweight for over four years, but the former world-title contender says losing the weight won’t be too problematic.

“Hopefully, I will be very strong at the weight. Previously I moved up two weight divisions, because I wasn’t boxing a lot but I was still eating a lot,” he said.

“I wasn’t eating bad food but I was eating big portions. I was holding my own with the super-middleweights but they had height, reach and a weight advantage over me when it came to fight night.

“Sometimes my opponents would come in a stone heavier and I think that had an effect on the fights at the top level.

“If I can mimic that at middleweight and be towards the top-end of the weight, then it should be better for myself.

“It is definitely an advantage but it will only be beneficial if I can use it correctly.”

Despite his losses to Groves and Ryder, Cox, whose only two career defeats came against them, says there is no added pressure to perform.

“I don’t feel any added pressure from last year. I always want to perform, I want to do the best that I can so I don’t feel like I am under pressure,” he added.

“I’ve known Tony for a long time. To me, John (Costello) is part of my family but I had a few things going on in my life last year and I just wanted a fresh change.

“Tony is very good and very knowledgeable, he’s always in the gym so I am learning off him every day I’m with him.

“I’ve been out for quite a bit but I’m back training with Tony. I’ll be ready for March and then hopefully I’ll have a title fight of some sort in May.”