TOM ASPINALL is “ready” to return to the UFC following successful eye surgery.
But promoter Eddie Hearn has claimed there’s currently a major hurdle in the way of his cage comeback.
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The Atherton assassin was forced to undergo double eye surgery in February to repair the damage he suffered in his ill-fated maiden defence of the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane last October.
The fight was ruled a no contest after a HORROR DOUBLE POKE from Gane late in the first round left Aspinall unable to see.
Aspinall revealed in July that he’s been given the all-clear to return, but a date for his comeback has yet to be announced.
And according to Hearn, the 32-year-old will need clearance from a medical commission before being booked to fight.
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The Matchroom bigwig said this week: “The only thing that we have to look at is when Tom Aspinall will be ready to return.
“And that’s not from a mindset perspective; that’s from a commission perspective in terms of his injury.
“And that shows you what he has been through because if the commission won’t let him fight, you know how serious the injuries were.
“He’s motivated. I can’t give you an exact date you but what I can tell you is he wants to get back in there as soon as he is physically able to do so.”
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Aspinall, according to Hearn, has had FOUR operations to restore the vision and movement in his optics.
A return to action at UFC 334 or UFC 335, which take place at Madison Square Garden on November 14 and the T-Mobile Arena on December 12, respectively, could be on the cards for the heavyweight king.
Hearn is optimistic about a potential end-of-year return but insists the team won’t be rushing the fan favourite back.
He said: “The problem isn’t really how he feels, it’s whether he’s medically ready to fight and what the commission or the medicals would say.
“He’s training, he’s ready, he’s eager to come back.
“But you can’t afford with that kind of injury to make a poor decision and come back too early… it can cost you your eyesight.”
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Hearn’s update on Aspinall comes just over a week after the Brit denied sensational rumours he’d vacated his belt and left the promotion.
UFC supremo Dana White said of the reports: “He’s not going anywhere.
“He’s with us, and we’re good with Tom Aspinall.
“I didn’t know that. I didn’t know his striking coach had said that, but obviously that’s not true.”
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White also insisted there is no bad blood between himself and Aspinall following his decision to team up with Hearn, with whom he’s involved in a bitter feud.
The American said: “We’re good. [And] when he’s healthy and ready to fight, he’ll fight.”