TRAINER Kevin Maree says he is putting no pressure on Kenny Anderson to return to boxing after the Stirk House fighter vacated the British title for personal reasons.

Anderson defeated Robin Reid last October to achieve his lifelong ambition of becoming British champion, but he gave the belt up only months later.

Unspecified personal reasons were the reason for Anderson’s decision to vacate the title, and it is still not clear when or if the super middleweight will return to the sport.

Asked if there was a chance Anderson could retire, Maree said: “I really don’t know.

“Kenny has finished boxing at the moment for personal reasons.

“I speak to him as much as I can but as far as I’m concerned at the moment when I speak to Kenny I don’t talk about boxing, because he has a lot of things he has to sort out. I’ll let him get on with that.

“My foremost concern with all my lads is their health and their mental state.

“It comes to a point where boxing has to go on the backburner and if lads aren’t mentally or physically ready to box, then I’m the first person to say they shouldn’t do it.

“If he comes to me and says, ‘Kev, this is what I want to do, let’s get on with it and I want to come back’, then he’ll be welcomed with open arms.

“When that times comes and he feels that way, I’m sure I’ll be the first to know.”

Maree will hope that the British belt vacated by Anderson is back in his Stirk House gym soon, with Luke Blackledge now set to challenge Paul Smith for the super middleweight title on December 7.

The bout will take place at the Liverpool Echo Arena.