Carshalton bricklayer Tony Owen is back in the ring this month – after his manager agreed to hand him a tough comeback fight.

Owen has been added to promoter Mickey Helliet’s championship bill at The Coronet in Elephant and Castle on Friday, April 20.

‘Pretty’ Ricky Boylan aims to extend his unbeaten record on a show topped by Croydon crowd-pleaser Chas ‘The Bomb’ Symonds going toe-to-toe with Darryl Still for the vacant Southern Area welterweight championship.

Owen was handed his first defeat in a title fight last November.

His bid to take the Southern Area lightweight title from Ben Murphy ended in a four-round loss and rather than ease his way back with a confidence-building match up against a journeyman, the 25 year-old southpaw has asked for a tough scrap and got one.

Owen will box Bulgarian Asan Yuseinov, beaten only twice in 14 previous fights.

“There are easier fights out there for Tony," said manager and promoter Helliet.

“I offered him several easier fights and he turned them all down.

“He told me wants another good test and knows if he wins this fight he will be right back in contention for another title fight.”

Murphy went on to prove his title credentials after handing Owen his first defeat in front of the Eurosport cameras last year.

Murphy took a late-notice chance to challenge British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane and after 10 rounds, the Hove powerhouse was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards before being stopped in the 11th and penultimate session.

“Tony will have learned a lot from that fight with Murphy," added Helliet.

“He was out boxing Ben and after three rounds, I had him in front. But he got dragged into a fight and that’s what cost him. I’m sure Tony won’t make the same mistake again.”

Tickets for the show are available 07703 736103.