FORMER Horsham resident Mitchell Clark is poised to return to the boxing ring after an 18-month hiatus from the sport.
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Clark, who spent the past year-and-a-half working on a cattle station in south-west Queensland, admitted the break was needed. The former Victorian and Western Australian title holder said he couldn’t wait to restart his career.
"I am feeling really good, feeling fresh and I am keen to get back into the swing of things and just happy to want to be back in the gym," he said.
"When I was up there I didn't do anything at all to do with boxing, I didn't even want to look at a pair of boxing gloves or talk about it.
"Being such a young person in the sport where you are against more mature and older fellas it's hard work to get on top of things sometimes and get your mindset right.”
Clark grew up in Horsham and played junior football with Horsham Demons. His father Barry was originally from Minyip.
He has teamed up once again with Coleraine-based boxing coach Ray ‘Mocka’ McIntosh.
Clark achieved plenty of success under McIntosh’s tutelage at the start of his professional career.
McIntosh said he had big plans for the returning light heavyweight.
"He is only 24, so he has the world at his feet," he said.
"He has reached a very high level before and now we have got to work on going out of the square. He has two bouts to compete in this year and if both are successful then we will look at the bigger picture.
"That's an Australian title and world youth title which the likes of Danny Green, Anthony Mundine, Daniel Geale and Zac Dunn have all won. That's what we will be looking at."
Clark said there was no other gym he wanted to be in.
"I said to Mocka from day one I am never going to leave his gym, he has always been a mentor for me and has always looked out for me and what is best for me," he said.
“It's just like being back home and with a big family.”