Devine plots happy return to Bethnal Green

The 22-year-old fights Dan Carr at the Bethnal Green arena, the first time he has boxed there since losing to Mark Alexander in April 2010.

That time he was beaten inside three rounds, but Devine felt it only improved him as a fighter.

He said: “It was my dream to fight there, but I think it came a bit early for me. I had a few problems in training and got beaten.

“I’m glad it happened when it did though and not further down the line. I learned so much from that and it’s definitely made me a better boxer.”

The fight should be Devine’s last four-round bout too as he confirmed he is looking to up his charge towards a title should he be successful.

He said: “I think this will be my last one at four rounds as I’m looking to go to six rounds after that.

“Then I definitely have my eye on one or two people to try and win a title next year as I’m confident in what I can do.”

Devine had been due to fight Steve Gethin, but his opponent withdrew from the bout and Carr stepped in to take his place.

Carr, 23, from Wiltshire, has only won one of his 15 previous fights, losing the other 14, but Devine believes he is better than his record suggests.

He said: “I had been preparing for Steve Gethin, but he was forced out of the bout and now it’s Dan Carr.

“I’ve not really seen many of Dan’s fights, but my trainer James (Paisley) went to watch him in Northern Ireland last weekend and said that he deserved to get the win there, but was unlucky against a boxer in his home country.

“He’s an awkward fighter and makes it difficult, but I’m more than confident of my own ability to go and get the win.”

Devine was last in action himself just over two months ago when he outpointed veteran Sid Razak in Dagenham.

The Lutonian, pictured left, felt he learned a great deal from the bout and wants to right the wrongs he made at the Goresbrook Leisure Centre.

He said: “I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring again. Training has been going well. I’ve been working on a few things and looking to pace myself as I went out a bit quick in the last bout.

“I had been out of action so long and was looking to really go out quickly. This time I’m still going to be a bit nervous, but I want to go out there, and don’t want to waste any of my shots this time.

“Straight after the fight I was wanting to work on things. James said ‘shut up, you should take your time’, but I didn’t want to.

“I know what I had done wrong and wanted to work on it and James said as a boxer, it’s great to know that.”

Devine is hoping to take a good number of supporters down to London for the night and expects them to create a partisan atmosphere.

He added: “I’ve sold 100 tickets so far and am really pleased with that. Luton fans always make the noise though so it will sound like more than 100.”