WORCESTER-based Robert McCracken is in the running to mark the end of his ring career by being named as the Midland Boxer of the Year.

McCracken, who retired last month after failing in his bid to win the European title when he was stopped by Howard Eastman, is on a shortlist of three for the Midland Area award.

Coventry's Neil Simpson, the British light-heavyweight champion, and Nottingham's Nicky Booth, who holds the British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles are McCracken's rivals in the battle for the accolade.

The trophy will be presented at the awards dinner at the Eaton Hotel in Birmingham on June 29.

Meanwhile, McCracken has admitted that he is not missing the daily grind of training as he plots his next career move.

He plans to stay involved in the sport by helping to train some of the sports up-and- coming fighters, most notably the unbeaten Sidcup-based welterweight David Walker.

"This is something that I want to expand on," said McCracken. "I don't miss having to do the training myself, but I do miss the buzz that you got two days before a fight."