Lee Haskins Ready: I'd Love To Fight Jamie McDonnell

He might still go by the nickname of 'Playboy', but Lee Haskins insists his partying days are over as he bids to crown his career by grabbing an elusive world title shot.

The Bristol 31-year-old has been left frustrated in his world title quest while watching two opponents he had earlier beaten - Jamie McDonnell and Stuart Hall - go on to win major titles.

Haskins will take a significant step towards a rematch with reigning WBA bantamweight champion McDonnell if he beats Omar Lamiri in Monte Carlo later this month.

And he insists he will seize his chance and belatedly realise the potential he showed as a bright young flyweight cutting a swathe through the domestic ranks almost a decade ago.

Haskins said: "To be honest I never used to train for fights back then.

"Even when I fought Jamie (in 2008) I wasn't training.

I'd do two or three weeks of light training and then struggle making the weight. I was never anywhere near peak fighting condition.

"Now it's different. I've got a family and I'm older and wiser. I'm constantly in the gym and train three times a day most days. I learnt my lesson a good few times - it usually ended with me getting beaten up."

Fighting out of Chris Sanigar's bright young Bristol stable, Haskins made an explosive start to his professional career, winning English and Commonwealth titles before suffering his first defeat to Tshifhiwa Munyai in October 2007.

A subsequent British title loss to Hackney's Ian Napa raised serious questions about Haskins' ability at the top level but he recovered with a run of straight wins, including over McDonnell and Hall.

Frustratingly for Haskins, he had to sit and watch as both of his formerly vanquished foes seized their respective chances to seize world titles while he stayed in the shadows and lost a European tilt to Stephane Jamoye in Belgium.

Now on a run of four straight wins, Haskins has arguably never been in a stronger position for a shot at one of the 'fringe' world titles, with a rematch against McDonnell at the top of his agenda.

"We've tried to get both of them (McDonnell and Hall) to fight me and they just put me to the back of the queue," said Haskins. "It's a bit unfair but if I was in their shoes I'd probably have done the same.

"I'd love to fight Jamie or anyone for a world title. I just want my shot.

"I've won every major belt beneath a world title and I think I'm now entitled to a shot at one. I want to end my career knowing I had the chance to become a world champion - that's all I'm asking for."