Eric Donovan admits time is running out on his dream career finale - a European title shot in Punchestown.
Donovan, 36, will fight on May 22 although an opponent is not yet confirmed. A victory will set up one last title fight before he hangs up his gloves.
Finishing on home soil in Kildare would be the icing on the cake after turning his life and career around when he turned pro at 28.
But the Athy fighter says that the cost of insurance and security means his last fight will most likely happen elsewhere.
"I want a homecoming fight, that would be an absolute cherry on top, a dream come true," said Donovan.
"There are too many barriers in the way and I really wish they could be knocked down because we’ve had some amazing pro boxing nights in Ireland that really do unite the nation.
"I'd love to fight in the Punchestown Events Centre and they would love to host me.
"I’ve also been in touch with potential broadcasters who would love to host a big fight for me. Sometimes they can be the hardest part of getting a fight on, but they’re actually interested in making it all work.
"The problem is more about the insurance costs and the governing body, the BUI.
"I’ve got managers telling me they can’t run a show because even if they sold a certain amount of tickets, they couldn’t afford it.
"A show in Dundalk could cost you an absolutely arm and a leg and you could go up to Newry and make a serious profit off it - it’s a couple of minutes up the road, it just doesn’t make sense.
"I’d like to see that ironed out. I’m not too sure it’s going to happen before I hang them up, unfortunately."
The security issue in the wake of the Regency Shootings has obviously been an insurmountable issue for many boxers who want to fight in or around Dublin.
Donovan says that incident and subsequent problems with criminality brought boxing in this country "into disrepute", adding: "Boxing is an amazing sport, it has so much potential and does so much good.
"There's always going to be an element of unsavoury characters because it just has one of those open door policies for everyone.
"What I try to do is look at the benefits and the positive side because I know that the good people in boxing helped me to change my life.
"That's why I'm honoured as the ambassador of the Hi Garda campaign.
"I was a young tearaway - grew up in a council estate, a disadvantaged area. Friends I grew up with, loads went to prison or ended up on harder drugs, heroin etc. I was there in the centre of all that.
"I genuinely believe that there is no place for criminality or gangsters in boxing. That's it.
"There's no place for that in any organisation in Ireland, we don't want that, we don't need that."
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