AT the age of 34 and having only fought 10 rounds in more than four years, it would be easy to put Jason Cook’s British title challenge to champion Lenny Daws down as last-chance saloon stuff. However the Maesteg veteran doesn’t see it that way. Despite persistent injuries to his shoulder and ankle forcing him into a near-four-year hiatus from the ring, Cook, 26-3 (13), feels better than ever and is looking to win the titles that eluded him during what he now terms his “first career”.

“I’ll be 35 soon but age doesn’t mean anything, look at Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins, they are the best in the world at their weights,” he said. “I’m just as fit now as I was when I was 28. When I retired I had a rotator cuff injury and tendonitis in my ankle but, touch wood, everything has been great the last few months since I made the comeback.

“My training is going brilliant and I’ll be in the shape of my life. I’ve done 12 rounds of sparring or 14 rounds of pad-work some days and still left the gym feeling good. I feel rejuvenated.

“I’ve set out to win the British and Commonwealth [titles] because I missed them the first time around and if I get any higher that then it’s a bonus to me. I would like to win this belt and defend it three times so I can have it for keeps because I think it’s the best belt there is. I’ve got the IBO belt and the European belt but they’re like pieces of tin to me. The Lonsdale Belt is a lovely belt.”

But before he can start thinking about how the sport’s most historic strap will look displayed on his mantelpiece, Cook needs to consider how he will neutralise the threat brought by current holder Lenny Daws.

“He’s a good fighter,” Cook said of the champion. “He’s very workmanlike and throws volumes of punches but he’s not a devastating puncher and he goes back in straight lines so I’m very confident.

“I’m training for a 12-round fight and he is too. I’ve heard he’s said that I’ll be his toughest fight so he’s giving me respect.”

Cook, who works for supermarket chain ASDA on a seasonal basis, returned to the ring last September and halted Bangor, Northern Ireland’s Scott Jordan with a massive left hook in the fourth round.

“It had been four years so it felt a bit weird at the time getting back in the ring,” Cook recalled. “At the weight I fought at I felt a bit fleshy but I wanted to fight and I was happy with the performance after I saw the fight on DVD afterwards.

“The shot to finish the fight, you’d have to go back years to bring that back. It brought back memories of the [Sandro] Casamonica fight.”

That fight with Casamonica in August 2002 was Cook’s crowning glory. The Italian was supposed to take on Bradford’s Bobbie Vanzie in a fight for the vacant European lightweight title but Vanzie pulled out and Cook got the call to travel to the small hillside town of San Mango d’Aquino on just 10 days’ notice.

In a challenge that Boxing News dubbed “Mission Impossible”, Cook survived a knockdown early in the third round before getting back to his feet and poleaxing the Italian with a blistering left hook.

Unfortunately that trademark punching power didn’t bring the Maesteg man success when he took part in Matchroom’s Prizefighter competition last December. Cook snapped the unbeaten record of Michael Grant in his opening bout but was outworked by fellow Welshman and eventual winner Gavin Rees in the semi-finals.

Despite his failure to pick up the £32,000 cheque on offer, Cook did enjoy the event and feels it was his determined showing that has earned him this surprise shot at the domestic championship.

“It was a great experience but it didn’t suit me, I like to box a bit more now,” Cook stated. “Michael Grant was unbeaten and people were expecting him to wipe the floor with me but I found him pretty easy actually.

“Gavin was tough but I should have stuck to my guns and fought like I did in the previous round. Afterwards Gavin came into the changing rooms and said I was his toughest fight of the night and that he was glad it was only a three-rounder.

“I was disappointed not to win but I proved I can still compete at a high level and it’s given me this chance at a British title.”