NEWPORT’S Craig Woodruff is seeking to avenge his only professional defeat against Mitchell Buckland this Saturday.

The Alway boxer, already the Welsh lightweight champion, aims to claim the Celtic title with a revenge victory over Buckland at the Newport Centre.

St Joseph’s fighter Buckland, younger brother of former British super-featherweight champion Gary, beat Woodruff 40-36 on points at the same venue in July 2012.

Woodruff won the Welsh lightweight title by beating Tony Pace in February before knocking out Dai Davies to add the British Masters super-featherweight belt to his collection in July this year.

And the 21-year-old says he’s a different fighter to the one that was easily beaten by Buckland last year.

“I’m confident. I’ve done everything right this time and I’m ready to get in the ring now,” said Woodruff, who trains with ex-British featherweight champ Steve Sims.

“I can’t wait to get in there and show people what I can do.

“It doesn’t matter that he beat me last time, it won’t have any bearing on this fight.

“But I want revenge. It’s the only time I’ve lost and he was just better than me on the night.

“I wasn’t training properly then but I’m a completely different fighter now.

“I’ve got a plan to beat him this time,” he added. “It was only four rounds last time and he won but this time I’m going to beat him and I’m ready to go ten rounds if that’s what it takes.”

And Woodruff is thinking big as he continues to impress in his fledgling pro career with five wins and just the one defeat to Buckland.

“I’ve got the Welsh title and I’m going to win the Celtic title on Saturday,” he said. “Then I’ll be focusing on the British title.

“They say good things come in threes but I know I’ve got to beat Mitchell first and I’ll be 100 per cent focused on that this weekend.”

Woodruff v Buckland is the headline act on the Newport Centre bill promoted by Mark Prior and there are plenty of other local favourites on show.

Newport welterweight Jerome Samuels looks to continue his return to form against Dai Jones and St Joes middleweight Frankie Borg takes on Greg O’Neill.

The show starts at 7pm and tickets will be available on the door or from matchmaker Steve Sims on 07761965416.