DARYL Pearce already feels like he’s got something to prove when his year-long wait to make his professional boxing debut comes to an end.

Rednal's Pearce will fight under the lights where he was supposed to make his bow last summer, at the Venue in Dudley on Saturday, July 7, writes Craig Birch.

He features in a four-round contest on 'The Usual Suspects' show which will take place under the BCB Promotions banner.

The 24-year-old welterweight showed signs of power punching while on the unlicensed circuit, but hasn’t boxed competitively in two years.

He has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines waiting for his pro licence to be cleared with the British Boxing Board of Control.

Pearce now has the green light to get going and is looking to make big waves in the division, when he goes up against a yet to be specified opponent.

He said: “It’s been a long time coming, I can’t wait to get in there and I’m more excited than anything. I’ve got my heart in this and I’m more ready now than I was then.

“It’s going to be well worth the wait, because I’m as determined as ever to be a success. I’ve been down the wrong path before, so I don’t want to do that again.

“I want to do well in life and be proud of myself. I’d had a few setbacks but, when push comes to shove, I’ve still got that hunger for boxing.

“I can’t wait to show everyone how serious I am about the sport, I haven’t had a proper fight in two years, but I haven’t forgotten how to do it.

“I’ve been around the gyms sparring and, while you might not always be at your best there, I wasn’t that rusty. I was confident and relaxed. The more fights I get, the better I’ll become.

“In the unlicensed game, I’d get people I didn’t know come up to me and tell me how I’d impressed them. I must have been doing something right for strangers to do that.

“I want to make a statement on July 7. As far as I’m concerned, this isn’t my debut, it’s about showing who I really am. I’ve got something to prove.”

At the top of the bill, Wolverhampton-born duo Matt Sen and Josh Burke will collide in a Black Country battle for the eight-round British Challenge cruiserweight title.

Danny Ball, Josh Miller, Connor Lee Jones, Aaron Lovell and Kirstie Bavington feature elsewhere on the under-card.

Kingswinford’s Ball will be looking a record a sixth success from six outings, in the super welterweight division where older brother Jamie is a former Midlands champion.

Dudley’s Miller is back in action after a two year absence from light heavyweight activity.

Jones, also from Dudley, will be boxing again less than a month after his pro debut. The 22-year-old lightweight outpointed Liam Richards on June 9.

The Lions Boxing Club graduate impressed with a whitewash four-rounds points verdict and has pedigree, having represented England as an amateur.

Tickets, priced at £35 or £50 ringside with waitress service, are still available by calling 07976 283 157. Alternatively, contact any of the boxers in the home corner on Facebook.