GARY JACOBS has rekindled his love affair with professional boxing after almost 20 years in the wilderness and stated his desire to return to the rarefied atmosphere of transatlantic superfights as a trainer and cornerman.

The former British, Commonwealth and European welterweight champion scaled the heights back in 1995 in Atlantic City when taking on Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker, then rated the best pound-for-pound performer on the planet, for the WBC world title and losing on a 12-round decision.

He is now back between the ropes as head coach of MGM Scotland's Glasgow-based operation and in charge of a growing stable which includes super-middleweight David Brophy, who will meet Charles Adamu of Ghana in a Commonwealth title eliminator in December, and Glasgow 2014 competitors Ross Henderson and Lewis Benson.

Jacobs, 49, admits he felt lost during his days away from the sport and hopes to repay promoter Sam Kynoch for this opportunity to become involved again by leading his new charges to the level he enjoyed during his own career.

"My ambition is to take one of these boxers to Las Vegas or Madison Square Garden to take on a marquee fighter," he said. "As I've done that myself, I'll be able to help them deal with it.

"When I fought Whitaker in his backyard, it was my first time at that level. There was a lot of nerves and tension and I know how the fighters in that position feel.

"I only went through those emotions once, though. There was no next time for me as a boxer, no other fight like that. Next time might have been different.

"I lived the dream and I want to do it again. I am motivated."

Jacobs met up with Kynoch, who left his career as a corporate lawyer to concentrate fully on boxing promotions, when making a one-off return to the fight game on a fundraising night.

It is a relationship that has since blossomed and it has helped him rediscover his spark following an often difficult spell of finding focus in his life without the discipline of training and the thrill of trading punches under the lights.

"I'd lost interest in boxing because the promoters and trainers up here weren't interested in my help," said Jacobs, whose professional career ended in 1997 with a unanimous points defeat in London to Yuri Epifantsev of Russia for the IBF intercontinental middleweight title.

"Doors were closed to me because I'd gone down to London to further my boxing career. I tried to open a couple, but it wasn't there.

"Fortunately, I met Sam four years ago when I got back into the ring to box on a fundraising show for breast cancer charities because my wife, Linda, had suffered from the disease.

"I saw something in him. He impressed me as a very intelligent and honest young man. He is a corporate lawyer and I liked him straight away.

"He's doing things properly. Boxing could do with more people like him.

"I love the sport. I spar every Tuesday and train every day. I love being back in the ring with the boys.

"During those years away from boxing, I got up to a lot of naughtiness, daftness, a lot of crazy stuff which will come out in my autobiography. Basically, I was in limbo.

"Sportsmen can feel lost when their career ends. I know I was. The red carpet is no longer there, the telephone isn't ringing, there's no buzz and no routine. You've got nothing.

"I loved the life and I lived the life and then I missed it. Now, though, I have a cleaning business and I'm involved in some property deals. That gives me a regular income which allows me to be a full-time trainer.

"I just want to help reach the next generation of Scottish fighters. Too many good, experienced boxers are lost to the sport when they could be giving something back."

*Gary Jacobs was speaking to preview MGM Scotland's first-ever boxing dinner club night at the Crowne Plaza, Glasgow, on Thursday, October 29. For all info, including tickets, email: info@mgm-scotland.co.uk