Popular Jamaican welterweight boxer Michael “Wasp” Gardener who made an enterprising’, even spectacular debut to professional boxing with a knockout victory over American Jose Guzman at the annual Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender boxing series two seasons ago, is back.

It is the fifth preliminary fight of the eighth Contender series on the three-fight card, and Gardener will face Jay Kelly in the main welterweight event at the Chinese Benevolent Association Auditorium today.

Fight time begins at approximately 8:30 pm and one of two amateur fights on the undercard will open the programme.

The Contender series of 15 fights will offer purse money of $3,000,000 and Gardener of Team Jamaica will go up against Team Canada’s Jay Kelly over five rounds. Both boxers weighed in at 147 lbs.

Gardener, 24, has a ring record of 7-2-0 with three knockouts while Kelly, aged 34, has a ring record of six bouts with one win, four losses and a draw. His win came by the knockout route and, looking for more useful competition, Kelly has trimmed down from the 167-lb middleweight division to a welterweight, a loss of 20lb.

The “Wasp” returns to the Series in “tip-top shape” in an effort to demonstrate that his opening victory in the Contender Series two years ago was no flash in the pan, as from that early incentive Gardener then carried on to annilihate all and sundry before him during the preliminary stages of the contest into the semi-final stage of that welterweight title series. At that stage he faced none other than the incomparable American welterweight guru, DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, who halted his bold attempt and went on to win the final.

Since then Gardener has been sharpening his tools for a return to the venue of his maiden triumph, and with no “Chop Chop” Corley in his way this time around his aim is the ultimate.

“To go one better by reaching the final at the eighth renewal of the Contender series, and may the best man tell,” he said during an interview at the weigh-in yesterday at Sure Time Medical on Trafalgar Road.

“I have been in the gym sparring for 240 rounds, 840 minutes, ran 300 miles. I am in tip-top condition for this fight. I have been sparring with Nick “Night Night” Reid, who pushed me in the gym; we take turns in pushing each other. Had a nice camp coming up to the fight, so I am ready.”

He added. “We do not put anything past anyone, we are not here to underestimate anyone. But as the record will show, the “Wasp” is here to sting, so don’t ‘buckup’ in the wasp nest.

“They have seen what I have done in the past and here I am two years later. I am more experienced — had nine fights (with five wins) and I have not been beaten for 2017. So the sky’s the limit and if I can reach the sky, I will just keep going.

“I have trained to fight for five rounds, but whatever opportunity comes I am prepared to take it. This for me is a win,” Gardener said.

Though looking outclassed by his fight record, Kelly goes into combat with an open mind saying: “Whatever happens in the ring the Canadian boxing will be the beneficiary, as the experience could prove invaluable. I know it is going to be a tough fight but whatever happens in the ring, I am going to have fun,” Kelly promised.