By Luke Cawdell

Heavyweight boxer Tom Dallas is all set to make his ring return this year – and he’s already eyeing up a title.

Dallas (pictured) has signed a three-fight deal with Goodwin Promotions that should end with a crack at the Southern Area title in October.

He hasn’t fought since taking part in the heavyweight Prizefighter tournament at York Hall in June last year, where he lost in the semi-final to American Tor Hamer.

And Dallas – with 16 wins from 19 fights – plans to be back in action almost exactly a year to that date, after agreeing to box on a six-round bout, again at York Hall, on June 29.

"By the end of this year, we’re hoping to be fighting for a title," said the 27-year-old. My first fight will be there to blow the cobwebs off and after an eight-round fight, I’ll then be fighting for the Southern Area belt over 10 rounds."

Dallas has been a regular for Lordswood Rugby Club, which he admits has been a good way of "unleashing some aggression" but a niggling elbow injury has held him back.

He is having an operation on Monday which aims to clear some bone that has come loose and after a two-week rest, it will be all-systems go for his York Hall date.

The Chatham boxer is still managed by Mark Roe and it was he who got the Goodwin Promotions deal arranged, along with Dean Sutcliffe.

Sutcliffe said: "We have seen the way Goodwin Promotions have worked with other fighters and helped get their careers back on track and were impressed with their straight talking attitude to the game."