Hove's Paul Halpin is aiming to rob Michael Gomez of his British super-featherweight title in 2002.

Halpin has been given the all-clear by boxing bosses to resurrect his career.

The unbeaten 26-year-old has been in limbo due to recurring blood problems.

A low platelet count, the particles crucial to blood clotting, caused the British Boxing Board of Control to suspend his licence.

However, Halpin is now looking forward to the new year with more relish than most following the reinstatement of his licence after the completion of medical tests.

He said: "It is a big weight off my shoulders. Now I can concentrate on my boxing and get on with what I have wanted to do since I was a youngster.

"The main thing is I can now aim for the top in a sport in which I am capable of going all the way.

"My trainer, Jimmy McDonnell, also works with British heavyweight champion Danny Williams and Takaloo (light-middleweight) and I want to prove I am capable of standing alongside them and achieving success."

Halpin, who has a record of 11 fights, ten wins and one draw at featherweight, has a meeting with his promoter Frank Warren, of Sports Network, on January 8 which should map out his immediate future.

"I have spoken to Frank on the telephone already and the plan is to have two or three warm up fights in a short space of time and then go straight for Michael Gomez," said Halpin.

"If I can meet Gomez there is a British title straight up for grabs and he is world ranked too. That would be a quick way in through the back door and a way to make up lost ground."

Halpin will be ringing the changes as he steps up to super-featherweight and he has plenty of motivation to do well in 2002 having not been in the ring since August last year.

He said: "Another incentive for me is that Brighton is a vibrant city now. The football club is doing well and hopefully I can bring up the boxing and become a big name. It is a make or break year for me. This will be my last year in boxing if I don't do well."

Trainer McDonnell said: "Paul should hopefully fight on February 2 or 9 with a couple of warm-ups before we shoot straight for Gomez and get his career where it really should be.

"He has got the ability but he needs to get back in the ring and fight regularly every six weeks as, at super-featherweight, you cannot be out for over a year and expect to come back to take on decent fighters immediately."