HERTS boxer Billy Joe Saunders is scheduled to make his return to the ring after a hand injury on Saturday, May 15 at Upton Park.

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HATFIELD fighter Billy Joe Saunders will make his return to the ring on the undercard of Kevin Mitchell’s interim WBO lightweight title fight against Michael Katsidis on Saturday, May 15 at West Ham United Football Club.

The 21-year-old has been out of action since injuring his hand in a six-round contest against Lee Noble in Newcastle on December 5, 2009.

In that bout, the Herts hitter was forced to use one hand for three fights, yet still secured a comprehensive points victory.

Since then Saunders, who lives at the Holwell travellers’ site in Hatfield, has been unable to punch and had to have an operation to repair the damage.

Yet promoter Frank Warren believes the time is right for Beijing Olympian Billy Joe to return to ring action as he looks for his sixth straight win in the squared circle since turning professional.

Also featuring on the East End bill, appropiately titled ‘Hammer Time’, is Commonwealth heavyweight champion Sam Sexton, Saunders’ fellow Olympians, Beijing gold medallist James DeGale and Birmingham pugilist Frankie Gavin, and Finchley heavyweight Derek Chisora.

More names are set to be added to the London show in due course, with Warren hoping to add two more title fights to the boxing extravaganza.

Tickets for ‘Hammer Time’, priced at £30, £40, £50, £80, £150, £200 and £250, are available from; West Ham Ticket Hotline on 0871 222 2700, website is www.whufc.com and See Tickets Ticket Hotline on 0871 2200 260, website is www.seetickets.com

For further coverage including exclusive quotes from Billy Joe Saunders and pictures from the London press conference, see next week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times - out on Wednesday.