Tyler Denny has no intention of slipping quietly away. Instead, the former European middleweight champion is ready to launch another assault on the 160lb division.

Denny’s rise through the ranks was one of British boxing’s most unexpected but popular storylines of the past few years.

The man who won the English middleweight title at his fourth attempt strung together win after win, became a legitimate Saturday night headliner and eventually won the European title in front of his home fans in Wolverhampton.

Last September, his remarkable eight fight unbeaten run ended beneath Wembley Stadium’s famous arch as Hamzah Sheeraz stopped him on the undercard of Daniel Dubois’ knockout of Anthony Joshua.

Denny, 19-3-3 (1 KO) returns to action this weekend. On Sunday evening he will fight Ghana’s Elvis Ahorgah, 13-3 (12 KOs), at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena.

The 33 year-old isn’t coming back to add another chapter to a Cinderella story. He has no interest in proving that he is more than a plucky underdog who overachieved. That part of his career is in the distant past.

“I wouldn't say that's my motivation,” he told The Ring. “I just want to get back for my own reasons. You only have to look at my CV to say I'm a bit more than that.

“I've beaten the undefeated fighters from the away corner a few times as well. You're never going to please everyone, but I'd like to think my CV speaks for itself.

“Maybe at the beginning that was the sort of thing but then when they're throwing the Brad Rea and Brad Paul fights towards you and you beat them and then beat Felix Cash convincingly too, I'd like to think I'm kind of established and that people give me a bit more respect but you can't please everyone, can you?

“For me, it's not finished with yet. I'd like to add a few more names onto the list, but when it is all said and done, I can sit back with pride and I've done well out of the game.”

Denny got as far as he did through consistency and dedication. It may have taken him four attempts to get over the hill and win that English title but once he started rolling, a long list of domestic opponents found him impossible to stop.

The setback against Sheeraz hasn’t changed anything. Denny got back to the gym and slipped right back into the old routine.

What worked before will work again. Denny has been kicked a couple of stages back down the mountain but he hasn’t had to go searching for the desire or determination to put himself back through the grind.

“You've just got to keep wrenching through every day. You have to keep doing it day in, day out. Because of the other guys you're fighting, sometimes it's about who wants it more,” he said.

“My whole career, I've put every ounce of energy into every fight, every camp. You can hold your head a bit high then, regardless of the result.

“The last one, I was obviously very disappointed. I think that's why I was frustrated so much, really. Time is for healing, isn't it? I'm over it now and I'm ready to crack back on.

“That's boxing. It can be very harsh at times. But I'm not the first guy or the last guy that that sort of thing is going to happen to but I think sometimes it's how you bounce back as well, isn't it? I've bounced back before.”

Sheeraz has now departed the middleweight scene and over the next couple of weeks, the picture will change further. On April 26th, Ring Magazine’s first ever boxing card hosts the 160lb grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn as well as an intriguing, under the radar fight between Liam Smith and Ireland’s Aaron McKenna.

Denny may be making a slightly lower profile return to the ring but beating Ahorgah is absolutely crucial to his own hopes of rejoining that top table.

“I really do believe in myself and I've got plenty of big fights, big titles to win,” he said.

“And some more money as well. Let’s be honest, I'm 33 now and I'd like to earn as much as I can . It's not like I'm fading or anything. I feel better than ever, to be honest.

“I think it's different from how many years ago. In all sorts of sports, everyone's lasting longer and they're looking after themselves better.

“I've got as much as I'm willing to give.”