MICHAEL Hunter is eyeing a tilt at a European title as he prepares to make his boxing comeback on Friday.

Hartlepool’s Hunter, a former British, European and Commonwealth champion, will end a self-imposed sevenmonth exile when he takes on Frenchman Osman Aktas in Dagenham at the weekend.

The super bantamweight announced his retirement in April, only to reverse his decision last month.

Having suffered just one defeat in his 30-fight career – an IBF world title fight reverse to Canadian Steve Molitor – the 30-year-old is confident of revisiting former glories.

“I want to get a couple of wins and move back into the title picture,” said Hunter, who hopes to fight on the undercard of Middlesbrough fighter Paul Truscott’s Commonwealth title bill at Eston on January 16 if he sees off Aktas.

“Rendall Munroe is the European champion (at super bantamweight) and the best out there in Britain, but he can’t beat me. I’ll smash him to bits.

“I’ve only been beaten by the world champion at super bantamweight, so I’m not worried about anyone at 8st 10lb.”

Like the larger-than-life Ricky Hatton, Hunter has previously admitted to enjoying the occasional drinking binge.

But having entered his thirties this year, the North-Easterner has cleaned up his act in an attempt to engineer a return to the world stage.

“I’ve finally seen the light,”

he said. “I’ve always trained like a professional athlete, but now I’m living like one too.

I’m happy and settled with my family.

“I would always go out boozing, partying and eating junk food before, but now I eat healthily and have six meals and four litres of water a day.

“I can make super bantamweight easily. Before, I used to lose seven pounds in two days in order to make the weight. But now I’m doing everything right, I won’t have to do that.”