Chas Symonds's new life in Greece has brought about an old philosophy in the Croydon boxer.

Since losing his Southern Area welterweight title fight with Bradley Skeete in December, 30-year-old Symonds has upped sticks and relocated to the Greek island of Kos - opening Sparta Boxing Club in his friend Phil Papailais's Seva Hotel.

The gym has proved a huge hit but after enjoying the sun-kissed lifestyle and sandy beaches for four months, Symonds returns to the UK this weekend to fight England's ninth-ranked light middleweight Steve O'Meara at Wembley Arena.

And he insists he is not there just to be a punching bag as he returns to his boxing roots.

"It is a big fight for me, he just lost the Commonwealth title on points," said Symonds.

"I am not going to say it is going to be easy, it is one of my hardest fights ever but I am not going there to just make the numbers up.

"They think I am just there to do a fight for Steve O'Meara after his loss but if I do lose I will be going down with a fight.

"I am going back to the Bomber of old when I was unbeaten for 10 fights. That is the Chas everyone will see on Saturday.

"I have been thinking about my boxing too much and I just need to go in there all Mike Tyson and just let the shots go."

If Symonds can pull off what would appear to be an unlikely victory on Saturday, he could put it down to the new found zen he has discovered in Kos.

"I am enjoying it and it is something I love to do," he said.

"I live in Greece now, it's my home and my dream has come true.

"I cannot read or write and I didn't get any exams result but my best mate out here owns a hotel and I have been coming here for eight years working in the hotel.

"It is a four star hotel and in the summer I am a manager and in the winter time he suggested a boxing gym.

"There was not one in the whole of Kos and it's gone through the roof, we have had to turn people away.

"We are looking forward to the future and maybe next year we will start getting boxing shows going."