Young Mutley in title pledge

The West Bromwich-based former British welterweight title holder returns to the ring on November 28 at Walsall's Banks's Stadium against Ukrainian Vladimir Borovski after deciding against retirement.

It will be the first time the 31-year-old – real name Lee Woodley – has fought since losing the European EBU title to Colin Lynes in July, a defeat which has convinced him never to fight at light-welterweight again.

Mutley was stopped inside eight rounds by the Eastender but he was a pale shadow of his normal self.

The West Bromwich man barely threw a punch in the most sluggish performance of his career after struggling with the lighter weight.

But he believes he has learned the lessons from that painful experience and he will be in tip-top shape to face the heavier Borovski, who normally fights at light-middleweight (11st).

And he has vowed to regain the British title he lost to Kevin Anderson in his first defence in June 2006.

"Fighting at welterweight, I will have my strength and speed back. I will never fight at light-welterweight again," vowed Mutley.

"I thought of retiring and I went a bit wild after the fight – going out a lot in Birmingham – but my girlfriend talked me into believing I could win a title again.

"Seeing Kevin Anderson on TV made me think I can become British champion again and that's what I'm going to do.

"I believe I'm the best welterweight in Britain. When I fought Anderson, I was winning easily but when he caught me in the 10th round, I should have gone down and taken the count, but I didn't and lost.

"It's all experience and you learn all the time – even at 31."

Far from thoughts of quitting the ring, Mutley is now focusing on fighting on until he is 35.

"I still feel fresh at the moment because I haven't had many 'wars'," he said. "I think I will fight until I'm 35 as long as I look after myself.

"Making the weight is harder as you get older and when you train for fights, you have to eat rabbit food – chicken, fish and vegetables.

"But when I fight at welterweight, the weight just drops off me."

Dean Harrison is one Mutley's closest pals in boxing as well as being one of best sparring partners.

But Mutley admits he is envious of the Wolverhampton prospect's once-in-a lifetime trip to fight in the slipstream of Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas on December 7, along with fellow First Team stable-mate Martin Gethin.

"Dean's is boxing in Vegas and it will be a good experience for him," added Mutley.

"I could have gone, but I was too overweight. To go over there you've got to be at the top of your game and I'd have wanted to be at my best.

"It's a shame because they wanted American-style fighters. I'd have loved to have gone over there – I'd much rather be going over there than fighting at Walsall!"

Mutley revealed mickey-taking from trainer Errol Johnson has seen him start to shed the pounds since returning to the gym.

"Errol has been calling me "fatty" because I've put weight on – I was about 13 stone when I went back to the gym, but it's dropping off now. My fat face is coming down!" he said.

"I've been running seven or eight miles a day and I start sparring next week.

"I went back about three weeks ago and they have all been telling me to come back and that's acted as a spur to me.

"They want me to get my belt back and I want it for keeps.

"Dean Harrison has been telling me to come back and not pack up.

"I'm in alright shape at the moment. I've done a bit of sparring but I've mostly been running to get my weight down.

"I'm 11 and a half stone at the moment. The fight is at welterweight but my opponent is a bit heavy.

"I know he's boxed Kevin Anderson and Jamie Murray so he's got good pedigree and he's got a good chin – which I'll definitely be testing."

Whatever happens, Mutley is determined to avoid getting into the state of lethargy that plagued him at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

And, in a candid admission, Mutley says he was in such a bad state he feared being seriously hurt.

"I've never felt that bad in my life and I knew I was in trouble in the first round – I couldn't defend myself and I could have got seriously hurt," he admitted.

"I hadn't got any energy – I just felt it wasn't me right from the first bell. I had nothing in me and he could have stopped me much earlier than he did.

"I could see the punches coming but I couldn't even move out of the way to defend myself so it could have ended a lot sooner.

"I was tempted to throw the towel in sooner but I'm not that kind of person – I'd rather have got knocked out.

"I didn't want to disappoint the fans who had paid money to come and see me.

"I think it was losing the weight and over-training.

"When I went to Tenerife sparring with Dean Harrison, I was 10st 8lbs to 10st 10lbs and I felt really good.

"But it was too much hard work getting down to light-welter."