After an absence from the ring of close on a year, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight world champion Philip Holiday returns to action on July 27 in hopes of capturing a second world title.
He takes on Jawaid Khaliq in Nottingham for the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) welterweight title. But few give the man who was once regarded as the best in his division a chance of reclaiming his former glory.
Holiday made six successful defences of his IBF title before losing a controversial points decision to Sugar Shane Moseley in 1997. Since then he has made two bids at winning another world title, losing points decisions to Colin Dunne for the World Boxing Union lightweight crown and to Thomas Damgaard for the International Boxing Council welterweight title. He put up a valiant effort against Damgaard in a slugfest, with some believing him unlucky not to get the decision.
When he accepted an assignment as a regular sparring partner in Denmark last year and then tried his hand at training in Australia earlier this year, it was generally felt that it would be a mere formality for Holiday to retire from the ring.
The gutsy fighter is adamant, however, that at 32 he still has a few good years left in him and has unfinished business to take care of — a return against Moseley.
Khaliq (31) has the distinction of being the first Pakistani to win a Commonwealth boxing title — a title he relinquished when he won the IBO welterweight crown by out-pointing Willy Wise in June last year.
He has made two successful defences and is rated as one of the top 10 welterweights in the world. Although he has 18 wins, he has fought no one of note other than Wise.
This gives Holiday, who has fought and beaten the likes of Jeff Fenech, a significant edge when it comes to experience. Holiday is pretty ring-worn however and a lot will depend on how much rest he received during his ”holiday” from the ring.