Hamza Uddin explains why he's now twice the fighter after hand surgery

Hamza Uddin says he has returned from injury twice the fighter - as he can now use both hands.

The Walsall flyweight is back in the ring on Saturday night when he challenges Sean Bruce for the British title at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena.

It is Uddin’s second bout in the space of five weeks after he dispatched Jensi Kibazange inside two rounds.

Prior to then the 23-year-old spent his longest time out of the ring since early childhood after undergoing surgery on a longstanding hand injury.

Uddin, who won the English title when he stopped Paul Roberts in five rounds last October, claims to have spent his first six professional bouts boxing with one hand.

He told the Express & Star: “I won the English title like that.

“It was an injury I had been carrying since the amateurs and it reached the point where it was best to have the surgery, get it out of the way and then push on.

“I am going to be way better because I actually have two hands now.

“You don’t know the feeling of seeing a shot and not being able to throw it. Now when I see it, I throw it.”

Uddin, who can become the first British Bangladeshi to win a British crown, has ambitions some way beyond the Lonsdale belt.

But the confident former amateur national champion claims even he was surprised by the speed of his comeback win over Kibazange.

“I was sharper than I have ever been, which everyone was surprised about - even me!” he smiled.

“That is rare. You know me, I am a big mouth. To be even sharper now? That’s scary.

“There are no excuses about ring rust. I am as ready as I can be for Saturday.”

Leicester’s Bruce, who has eight wins from 10 fights, is making the first defence of the belt he won by outpointing Alfie Clegg in February. The vacant Commonwealth title is also on the line.

“This is big,” said Uddin. “There is all the talk about world titles and undisputed titles (in the future).

“That all goes on pause this week. I could not care less. This week is all about the British title and I am going to put my heart and soul into grabbing it. There is a lot of history behind this belt. I am not taking it lightly.”