Wayne Alexander has some unfinished business. The Hailsham-based light-middleweight should have been world champion by now according to many in the sport.

One of the most explosive fighters in British boxing, Alexander's career has promised much but delivered relatively little.

Winning the British and European light-middleweight titles, of course, is more than most can boast but it is a disappointing return for the 30-year-old.

Now Alexander wants to change that and helping him achieve his goals is a 15-month-old girl who does not even understand what boxing is.

Alexander readily admits his outlook on life has changed since the birth of his daughter, Sade. It has made him more focused and the man they call Alexander The Great is hoping to live up to his nickname by becoming world champion before the end of the year.

He said: "I want Sade to be proud of me and I want to give her what she wants in life.

"Becoming a dad has made me more responsible. With my boxing career I am more focused now. I have something to fight for.

"When things are not going well in the gym or on the road I just think of my daughter. Before she was born, it was all about me and nobody else.

"I don't want to spoil her but I want to provide for her and for her to have what she needs in life."

Alexander turned pro more than eight years ago and he was unbeaten in his first 15 fights. He claimed the Southern Area light-middleweight title in 1999 and became British champion a year later.

In February 2002, he fought Namibian Harry Simon for the WBO title and, despite having taken the fight at 24 hours' notice, he suffered a more than honourable defeat.

A European title followed and a successful defence of his British crown but things have not gone well since.

Twenty-one fights in eight years of boxing sums up a career dogged by injury and misfortune. Last year was the year to put that right but things just got worse.

He gave up both the British and European titles in an ill-advised move to the middleweight division - something he has now reversed - and a year of just two fights ended in a surprise defeat against Delroy Mellis in Cardiff in December.

Alexander said: "It was a bad year for me. It started off with me giving up my European title. I only had two fights, I lost my second fight and I didn't make much money. With the Mellis fight I was a fool to myself. I lost two stone in six weeks which really weakened me.

"I thought I would walk through the fight and would beat him easily but I found out in the ring he was a tough guy and when I needed my reserves they weren't there."

Alexander gets a chance to start putting things right when he returns to the ring at York Hall, Bethnal Green, this Saturday against journeyman Howard Clarke, who has lost 41 of his 71 career bouts.

If he wins that one, Alexander is lined up to fight for the vacant WBU title in April.

Alexander said: "Giving up my titles was a bad mistake because I had fought so hard to get them.

"I have got three or four years left in the game and I want to make the most of it.

"I still feel I am reaching my peak. I haven't had many wars in the ring or in the gym and I still feel fresh."

Alexander may be approaching his 31st birthday but he remains hungry for success and desperate to give Sade something to tell her schoolmates about in years to come.

He said: "My dream is to become world champion. When people talk about me in the future I want them to say, 'Wayne Alexander, he was a good fighter'."