BARRHEAD boxer Gary Rae admits he can’t wait to return to the ring...once coronavirus has suffered a knockout blow.

Rae, 32, hasn’t been in action since November 2019, when he recorded a points victory against Brett Fidoe.

That win was a confidence boost for ‘Razor’ after his loss at the hands of Scott Allan back in 2018.

He had hoped to continue to build on that momentum last year but the pandemic has restricted him to training sessions in his home-made gym.

Now the talented scrapper hopes the rollout of a vaccination programme will defeat Covid-19 and clear the way for him to make his ring return.

Rae told Barrhead Sport: “I’m not one to dwell on stuff if there’s nothing I can do about it, so I’m not going to sit and feel negative.

“We’ve got to try and push through these barriers and, hopefully, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

“The desire is still there more than ever – I’m up at four in the morning to head out for a seven-mile run and then home for a circuit.

“As soon as I knew we were going into lockdown back in March, I turned my garage into a makeshift gym, so I’ve been working out there and I’ve got punchbags.

“I’m trying to improve all the time. No-one is there to keep on top of you if you’re maybe doing things you shouldn’t be but I’ve been doing what I can.”

Rae, who has a 10-1 record as a professional, admits he misses being able to work with coaches and do some sparring.

However, he insists he’ll be willing to fight anyone once the opportunity presents itself.

“I really miss the sparring,” said Rae. “You can train and run and do as much as you want but nothing wakes you up like getting punched in the face.

“That’s the side I really miss.

“I love going in and taking and giving punishment. It’s part of the sport I really enjoy, oddly enough.

“It’s great being in and mixing with the other boys and coaches and improving all the time.

“Working out at home is not the same but, if a fight comes along, I’m just going to have to take it, even though I’ll know I haven’t had as much sparring or as much practice as I usually would.

“It wouldn’t matter to me – I’d still go in confident of doing a job, should that come up, and I’m really hoping it will.”