Tyrone McKenna believes he will unlock the "missing link" when he returns to the ring next month.
McKenna will move up to welterweight for his clash with Welshman Chris Jenkins on the undercard of Michael Conlan vs Miguel Marriaga at the SSE Arena on August 6.
The 32-year-old has promised another toe-to-toe show in front of the Belfast fans, and believes moving up to 147lbs will bring out the best in him.
Read more: Former Belfast boxer using early retirement to help young kids
"I am moving up to welterweight and I think it is a good opponent to see how I get on at that weight. I have to see how I feel at the weight, and it is an exciting fight as well," he told Belfast Live.
"He always comes for a war, and we all know I love a war. That suits me.
"He won't run away or try to annoy me by trying to box me. He will stand toe-to-toe and that's what we all want to see.
"That brings out the best in me. I love going into the trenches and breaking people's hearts and that's what I think I can do to this guy."
McKenna believes the time is right to make the move from super-lightweight to welter, and admitted he did struggle on the scales for his previous fight against Regis Prograis back in March.
"I have been this weight 14 years. It comes to a stage when you can't make it anymore," he added.
"I felt it on the scales in my last fight against Prograis. It was too big a fight to say no to, or I would have moved up in weight before then.
"I accepted that fight and made the weight for it. But I knew I would be moving up after that.
"When I spar and I am sitting at the heavier weight I always spar much better. But then when I fight I feel there is something missing.
"Hopefully that missing link is the weight. I will hopefully feel like a new man at welterweight."
McKenna overcame an early storm to grow into his eagerly anticipated clash with former world champion Prograis. But his night was ended prematurely by the ringside doctor after the Belfast man picked up a cut.
"I knew how difficult the Prograis fight would be. I knew how hard he would hit and all that," McKenna recalls.
"He had me down in the second round and I took a lot of good shots. But I did exactly what I said I was going to do.
"I said I would take his shots and weather a storm, and then I would start pushing forward. So to get it stopped because of a cut, which wasn't even that bad, was disappointing.
"I have much worse cuts, and for the doctors to call it off annoyed me. I felt I was going to grow into the fight, and I felt the fifth round was my best of the fight.
"But take nothing away from Prograis, he was unbelievable."
He added: "I always knew I could compete with elite level boxers. I have always said that.
"I have fought some top fighters including Jack Catterall and Regis Prograis. Two elite level boxers.
"I have always proved I belong at that level and can mix it with those people. I believe in myself, and I feel at welterweight I will be sharer and stronger."
READ NEXT:
- Belfast boxer happy to 'ride the wave' towards title glory
- Michael Conlan vs Miguel Marriaga confirmed for SSE Arena on August 6
- Michael Conlan opens up on brutal weight cut and two-stone gain since Leigh Wood defeat
- Katie Taylor's dreams of a Croke Park rematch this year have been dashed
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox.
