Earby ace Josh Holmes means business on his return to the ring!

Lightweight boxer Joshua Holmes means business after getting the thumbs up to fight for the first time in more than a year.
Unbeaten pro Joshua HolmesUnbeaten pro Joshua Holmes
Unbeaten pro Joshua Holmes

The 25-year-old will look to stretch his winning streak to five in the pro game when he faces Levi Dunn outside the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield today.

His opponent, from Prestwich, was stopped in the fourth round of his debut against Mark McKeown at Production Park Studios in South Kirby in September.

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Holmes said: "I've been back in the gym since July and then four weeks ago I started stepping it up with Rob [Rimmer].

"My weight has been good, I'm in good shape, in fact I'm probably in better shape than what I was for my last fight. I'm bigger, faster and stronger. I've been preparing for an opportunity like this.

"I would go mental if I wasn't training. I'm obsessed with it. I eat, sleep and breathe boxing. I love it.

"I love the way training makes me feel afterwards, it's just second nature for me. It doesn't feel like a job at all."

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He added: "It's a good opportunity to put the rest of this year behind me. I'll be moving on to 5-0 and I'll be looking for that first stoppage on my record.

"I'll just focus on doing the things that I'm best and not what he's best at. He'll be more worried about me.

"I had four fights last year, I was just getting going, but now it's time to step things up. I mean business!"

The Phoenix Camp ace has battled his way through an injury-riddled 2020 after recovering from hand surgery, overcoming torn ligaments in his foot and getting the all-clear from doctors having perforated his ear drum.

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Holmes, a two-time Yorkshire Area champion, who fought out of Eastburn ABC before turning over, is now ready to make the most of the opportunity that has come his way.

The "Straightener in the Car Park", in association with Dennis Hobson Productions, is one of the first shows of its kind.

The drive-in event, which will be screened live on Eurosport, will be headlined by the IBF Inter-Continental flyweight title fight between Tommy Frank and Rosendo Hugo Guarneros.

"This has made my whole year," said Holmes, who saw off the challenges of Naheem Chaudhry, Dylan Draper, Edward Bjorklund and Jamie Quinn last year. "Everything seems to have fallen in place.

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"This couldn't have come at a better time. It's just before Christmas and it gives me the chance to set myself up for a big 2021.

"It's the first ever show of its kind in the UK and it could be the last. It'll be a completely different kind of feel, but I think it will work well. I'm looking forward to being a part of it."