And the fighter intends to prove that point when he goes into the ring to take on former Sky Prizefighter rival, Brighton's Ben Murphy.

For the first time in his career, Holborn has secured the financial backing which has allowed him to take unpaid leave from work and he says it has made a world of difference to him.

Borneo Bistro in Hylton Road, which makes cuisine from around the world, has not only helped the boxer with his diet and nutrition but also given him the backing to allow him to get involved in daytime sparring.

And the 25-year-old has benefited from going in against former British superbantamweight champion Michael Hunter, whose title fight tops the bill for this weekend's televised fight night at the Seaburn Centre.

Holborn told the Echo: "Michael has been training and sparring at Tommy Conroy's gym and I've had some of the best sparring of my career with him.

"Some of it was unbelievable – the two of us really going at each other hammer and tongs – and we've joked that people would have paid good money to watch a some of the rounds we've had against each other.

"But it has been great for me, because until Borneo Bistro stepped in, I've never been able to take the time off work.

"I've worked during the day and then trained at night, which is hardly ideal and it's also difficult to get someone to spar against in the evening.

"So this has been great and I can't thank Kevin Smith, Borneo's owner, enough.

"I'd go in there regularly to eat, got to know him and he said he'd like to be able to sponsor me in some way and his wife Remy, who's a nutritionist, has helped me with my diet for training.

"On Friday, I go into a fight against Ben Murphy and, to be honest, I can't wait. It's my third change of opponent leading into the fight, which is disappointing.

"But thanks to the help I've had I'm in the best shape of my life and I can't wait to get back in the ring and take my career forward again."