A KEIGHLEY boxer is really hoping to push on now with his career after putting a nightmarish year behind him.

After 11 months of inactivity, Muhammad Ali returned to the ring with a superb performance on a Frank Warren-promoted bill last weekend.

In his own words, it allowed him to "brush off the cobwebs" following a frustrating time with injuries.

Ali revealed to the Keighley News that he boxed his way to a points decision last July with a broken rib.

The Rio 2016 Olympian overcame Lee Glover at the Royal Albert Hall in a six round affair.

With a lack of financial support, a sad state of affairs meant Ali only went through with the contest to earn a pay check.

"I had a broken rib in my last fight," he said.

"It happened before the fight and I just got through it.

"I was a bit anxious. I had to take the fight because I need the cash. I could not do much so I just had to adjust.

"(After the fight) I was out for four to five months to treat the injuries."

Returning to Saturday night and it was tough journeyman Brayan Mairena who was on the end of an Ali masterclass.

The 25-year-old added: "It was a good, hard fight and a great learning experience.

"I have been out for almost a year, so it was good to get back in there."

A respected former amateur, Ali is keen to accelerate his pro career and fight plenty of times before the end of 2022.

The Anthony Farnell-trained boxer has set his sights on potentially competing for titles next year.

He said: "It has been hard to motivate myself. Hopefully this fight will kickstart a run of fights.

"I want four or five by the end of the year. I am 20th in the British rankings so hopefully I will be in contention for a title by the end of it.

"I say that every year so hopefully this is the year.

"I am 25 now. I haven’t got that much time, so I have got to get a move on."

Ali's super featherweight division is currently on fire domestically.

Welshman Joe Cordina has just picked up a version of a world title and Mancunian Zelfa Barrett, nephew of Pat, is on the cusp of achieving similar.

In the build up to Barrett's last bout, a convincing points win over the European level Faroukh Kourbanov, Ali provided a helping hand.

"I sparred Zelfa for his last fight, I was one of his main sparring partners.

"I did 10/12 rounds regularly with him. We were both helping each other out.

"I would like to contend with those guys at the top in the future."