With his first professional fight in almost two years taking place at Bolton's Macron Stadium tonight, Ulverston super lightweight Ryan Watson has guaranteed this is very much a return to active duty.

Watson, who runs his own gym in his hometown, will be facing Sheffield's Qasim Hussain in what is a four-round contest that will shake away any remaining cobwebs.

Once that bout is out of the way, Watson's trainer, Johnney Roye, already has a plan that will keep the 32-year-old, who last fought in November 2017, busy in the months ahead.

Watson said: "Now I've got two coaches helping me out at the gym, I'll be active now and I want to be fighting regularly.

"Johnney was talking about getting me back out in September after this and then, in the near future, looking at going for some sort of title, so it's going great."

Watson will be have several of the boxers he trains at Watsons Boxing and Fitness watching him from ringside and he is predicting a good bout against Hussain, who is in his 95th professional fight.

Watson said: "I've seen him box before and he's a tough journeyman who always comes to fight, so it will be a good fight. He doesn't run like some journeymen do.

"I always kept relatively fit, getting involved with everyone in the gym, doing a bit of sparring here and there, so I never got out of shape and it wasn't too hard for me to get up to speed."