Bournemouth Boxer Set for Return After Year Away

A Bournemouth boxer has announced his first fight back since falling short in a title challenge last year.

Charminster’s Mace Ruegg confirmed via social media that he is set to return to the ring in Liverpool on March 8th, marking a significant step in the next phase of his professional career.

By the time fight night arrives, it will have been exactly one year and seven days since Ruegg last stepped through the ropes.

His previous outing came at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), where he challenged for the Commonwealth Silver lightweight title in front of a home crowd.

That bout saw Ruegg face seasoned campaigner Liam Dillon on the high-profile “Collision on the Coast” card, promoted by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren and Queensbury Promotions.

Despite a strong performance, Ruegg narrowly missed out on the belt, losing via split decision in what proved to be the first defeat of his professional career.

Heading into that contest undefeated, the Bournemouth fighter now faces the challenge of rebuilding momentum after a lengthy spell away from competition.

A year out of the ring can often lead to concerns over sharpness and timing, but Ruegg will be hoping his return fight provides an opportunity to shake off any ring rust and reassert himself in the lightweight division.

Since his last appearance, Ruegg has also undergone a significant change behind the scenes. He has moved away from Poole-based trainer Steve Bendall, who had worked closely with Ruegg alongside his father, Danny Ruegg, throughout much of his career.

Ruegg has now linked up with Ian Weaver, joining a growing stable of South Coast fighters that includes Morgan Selemuthu and Lloyd Farrington.

Weaver brings a wealth of experience to the partnership, having enjoyed a successful amateur career of his own, including winning a Commonwealth championships in 2010, and sharing the ring with Joe Cordina and Luke Campbell, who would go on to become stars in their own right.

With a new training setup, renewed motivation and a return date finally set, this represents a fresh start for Ruegg as he looks to put last year’s disappointment behind him and work his way back to bigger fights and titles.