CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, CMC – Former world-rated Guyanese boxer Andre Purlett returns to the ring from almost 19 months of inactivity this weekend when he faces American Harold Sconiers in a non-title bout.

Purlett, 35, will headline the card at the Bette Rae Thomas Arena on Saturday night with the cruiserweight eight-rounder against Sconiers.

It will be Purlett’s first fight since April 2008 when he suffered a surprise second-round loss to the young American Aaron Williams.

The hard-hitting Purlett, who had campaigned as a heavyweight from the late 1990s after an unblemished run in the lower cruiserweight division, has a ring record of 40 wins (35 knockouts) against three losses.

He returned to the cruiserweight division after a pair of losses.

Sconiers, 32, has 15 wins (10 knockouts) against 20 losses and two draws.

Purlett was unbeaten in 32 fights in his first 10 years as a pro before losing to the Cuban Elieser Castillo in January 2002.

In October 2001, Purlett had captured the vacant World Boxing Organisation affiliated North American Boxing Organisation (NABO) cruiserweight belt by defeating the American Jeremy Bates on a second-round technical knockout.