SHAYNE Singleton has vowed to come back stronger after a freak injury effectively knocked his promising boxing career back a year.

The talented Colne fighter had set his sights on winning titles in 2012 – instead it will be 12 months of recuperation and comebacks.

A lapse in the gym where Singleton didn’t clench his left fist correctly resulted in a broken finger on his ‘jab hand’.

He has had a screw inserted in the damaged digit which will remain in for three weeks and he will be unable to throw a punch for a least three months.

Singleton, who fights out of the Elite Boxing Club in Bolton, believes he won’t be ring ready for at least six months – and will probably have to shelve any plans of fighting for area titles until next year.

“I’m devastated, this was suppose to be my year,” said the 22-year-old who boasts a perfect record of 11 wins out of 11. “The aim was to step up and go for an area title and then perhaps a shot at a Masters title as well.

“It was a real freak accident but one of those things that can happen in boxing. I don’t think I clenched my first properly and when I threw a punch I broke the finger.

The light welterweight has been earmarked as a real prospect and there was even talk of him fighting in the money-spinning Prizefighter series.

But the former Sandygate ABC fighter opted out of the Sky Sports tournament to continue his boxing education on the regional circuit.

That however, has been put back for the foreseeable future.

“It is really frustrating but the main thing is that I don’t rush back and risk further damage. I will only come back when I am 100 per cent fit,” he said.

“But I am gutted because basically the injury has put me 12 months behind schedule.

“I wanted to be fighting for titles as soon as possible but once I am back in the ring my next couple of fights are going to be comeback fights.

“It’s not ideal but that is boxing and that is something I am going to have to get used to.”