On Saturday night, Holmes (17-0, 6 KOs) faces Alex Murphy (14-2) on the undercard of the heavyweight fight between Moses Itauma and Jermaine Franklin, live and exclusively on DAZN.

If things play out the way the 30-year-old from Earby is hoping, he will leave Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena being spoken about as an exciting new addition to the British lightweight scene. The former English junior lightweight champion will be a new name to many but has been working away on the Northern small hall circuit for years.

“This literally just feels like the start of my career, which is crazy because I've been pro for six or seven years,” Holmes told The Ring.

“The ups and downs I've had, you just wouldn't believe. Not many people would be stood here where I am now if they had been in my shoes. I've had to go through injuries, operations, setbacks, COVID, brain scans, everything. It’s just been one thing after another, even from the amateurs. It’s just been mad but I'm still here. There’s something bringing me back every single day.

“You’re just born with that kind of mentality, I think. I've got something to prove - not to anyone else - but to myself in this sport, and that's the biggest thing. I want to prove to that kid who started boxing at 13 years old that it's worth it, you can do it. It’s worth all them hours and sacrifices.”

Holmes has been making the hour-long journey into central Manchester to train with Joe Gallagher for three years.

The Ring’s 2015 Trainer of the Year knows that it is impossible to predict how a boxer will handle the sense of occasion and pressure that comes with their first appearance on a major stage but has high hopes that having waited so long for his moment, Holmes will show exactly what he is capable of.

“Inactivity is killing a lot of fighters and there's three in the gym at the moment; Zelfa Barrett, Jack Massey and Josh Holmes,” Gallagher told The Ring.

“Josh had a fantastic win 17, 18 months ago, winning the English title and looking great beating a good kid and you thought that was it, the touchpaper's been lit, and nothing happened. He’s had a fight since and now gets a chance to go.

“Alex Murphy has been on the big stage. He’s sometimes been called in as the B-side but he’s been there before. He’s calm. There’s a familiarity because they’ve sparred in the past and he can think “I've been here” whereas Josh hasn’t. It’s about keeping a cool head.

“I hope he's on in a time slot where Frank [Warren] is there and he's watching going, “Who's this kid? That was an impressive performance”. You want that type of reaction.”

Sam Noakes, Joe Cordina and Zelfa Barrett sit atop the British lightweight rankings but Holmes can make himself a significant factor on the domestic scene this weekend. In direct contrast to Holmes, current British champion Louie O’Doherty won the prized Lonsdale belt within three years of turning professional.

Before stepping up to 135 pounds, Holmes was close to securing a shot at then British junior lightweight champion Reece Bellotti and is hoping that an impressive win over Murphy will move him closer to a fight with O’Doherty.

“That's what I'm hoping for,” he said.

“We’re hoping for that British. Everyone’s dreaming of winning the British title and what a title it is to win. It’s a tough division, lightweight, so for me to get my hands on that, that'd be great. I won't look past this fight first, but hopefully we can get that in the summertime.”