Matthew Hall is set to return to the ring following a stabbing that almost ended his career. The 19-year-old Middleton prospect was wounded in the abdomen last summer (David Barnes was also hurt in the incident), and has not fought since being released from hospital.
But now the heavy-hitting lad from the Brian Hughes camp is scheduled to box at the Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes on February 26 (the bill is headlined by Steve Foster Junior against Mickey Bowden for the inaugural English featherweight title.)
And Hughes has no doubts about his young protégé, who has won all five of his fights to date:
"He's trained like a Trojan since he got the all-clear to resume training from his surgeon at the hospital," he said.
"Matthew is learning all the time. He really is one of the most exciting youngsters on the scene. He trains diligently and I have to chase him out of the gym for fear he will burn himself out by doing too much.
"He can also punch with power and accuracy, something fight fans love.
"He doesn't get the big build-up of other allegedly promoted fighters, and we are not bothered by that because all that will come later in his career.
"I've said it dozens of times, but if Matthew keeps listening and learning, in three years he will be one hell of a fighter."
The Widnes bill also sees Manchester's unbeaten Thomas McDonagh, 21-0-2 (4), defend his WBU intercontinental light-middleweight title against gritty Bedford man Bobby Banghar over 12 rounds.
McDonagh is still looking for a breakthrough after promising much in a career that began back in 1999, but has been his own worst enemy at times. His flamboyant nature has often left trainer Hughes exasperated.
Says Hughes: "We believe Thomas is maturing as a boxer and expect him to move up a level this season. He has been nominated for the eliminators for the British light-middleweight championship. But first of all he has to take care of Mr Banghar.
"He has been criticised for showboating in the past, but his recent fights have seen a change in his attitude and this should be a cracking contest."
Last time out in September, the 23-year-old outpointed big local rival Eugenio Monteiro (a Portugese based in Manchester) over 12 rounds to capture his spurious WBU intercontinental crown - a win that is looking better and better since Monteiro trounced Gilbert Eastman and Takaloo in subsequent eight-rounders.
So Banghar, 11-3-1 (2), will be up against it, even though he is on a winning run of five since current WBU light-heavyweight champion Matthew Barney stopped him in five rounds in May 1999. But five fights in nearly five years is hardly ideal preparation for a busy fighter like McDonagh, a man fighting on virtual home soil.
Still, it's good to see the colourful Banghar get a title shot of sorts.