Cheeky May back on track

Bunbury boxing sensation Nathaniel "Cheeky" May will headline one of the South West's biggest fight nights next year, when he competes for the IBF Australasian Featherweight Title.

May, who is recovering from a serious hand injury, will compete in his first 12-round fight for the vacant title against Thailand fighter Patomsith Pathompothong, who May defeated in eight rounds last year.

The Bunbury fighter will begin training later this month for the February fight and will return to what trainer Pete Stokes has called "one of the hardest training camps" he has faced to date.

May has not fought since August, with a tendon injury confining him to a cast which will be removed tomorrow.

May said he had enjoyed the time off, both physically and mentally.

"I feel 100 per cent confident (in the hand)," he said.

"I have had a couple of months off. It was good to have time off.

"My fitness will pick up and it will be great."

May said he was confident he could perform well over the 12 rounds despite never fighting for that length previously.

"I do not mind going 12," he said.

"Then at least I know I can do the distance.

"But if there is an opening to take him out, we will do it."

Stokes said May would start on a modified program as he continued to gain strength in his right hand.

"The first four to six weeks will be modified," he said.

"The training program will be a lot different now, because even though it is just two rounds extra, that is another six minutes of hard work and we have to reproduce that in strength and conditioning training.

"It is going to be a hard three months for him."

Stokes said he thought the hard work would pay off for May.

"This title is a guaranteed world ranking," he said.

"The IBF is the most elite in national boxing. It will open a lot more opportunities for the US and Europe for us hopefully."

Stokes said the title would give May a ranking which would put him on the map across the world.

"We want to fight the best, beat the best and continue on," he said.

"That is what we have done so far and we find the IBF is the right fit for us at the moment."

Meanwhile, the fight scheduled for May's teammate Sam Blyth this Friday night has been cancelled, with the event also not going ahead.

Blyth is not expected to fight now until February.