Sam Noakes defends his WBC International Silver lightweight title against Carlos Perez | Pair had been due to meet in September before Spaniard pulled out injured

Sam Noakes wants to make up for lost time as he returns to the ring after an eight-month absence.

Maidstone lightweight Noakes (11-0) defends his WBC International Silver title against Carlos Perez (19-7-2) at York Hall in London tonight.

The pair were due to meet at Wembley Arena in September, only for the Spaniard to pull out through injury before the weigh-in.

It was frustrating for Noakes, having trained hard for the fourth defence of his title, but it’s all systems go this time.

“I’m looking forward to it - it’s been so long since I’ve been in the ring,” said Noakes, 26, who last fought in April.

“I think Perez sustained an injury in his training camp.

“I don’t know what it was but it’s irrelevant now because we’re going to end up fighting anyway.

“It was the day before the weigh-in which was pretty rubbish because I’d done the whole camp, the hard bit, and I didn’t get to do the good bit at the end.

“A camp’s never wasted but you get to that peak, ready to fight, so it’s a bit of a nuisance but it seems like a distant memory.

“I’m fighting the same fella so he’s obviously up for it.

“I’m looking forward to feeling that fight atmosphere again, getting in there on the telly and just enjoying it because you do all this hard work and you normally have the fight at the end of it to remind you why you do it.

“When you think the last time I was out was April it just seems so long. I need that winning buzz again.”

It’s Noakes’ first appearance at York Hall since stopping Des Newton in his third pro bout almost four years ago.

It’s another iconic venue, albeit more intimate than the likes of Wembley Arena, the O2 and the Copper Box.

“You get a good atmosphere there,” said Noakes, whose bout will be shown live on TNT Sports.