THERE is a significant East Lancashire presence on a big fight card in Sheffield tonight.

A quartet of Kevin Maree-managed fighters will be in action outdoors in the car park of the city’s indoor arena on an event being broadcast on new app Fightzone.

Blackburn amateur star Jack Fay makes his long-awaited professional debut while Burnley’s Reece Farnhill also has his first contest in the paid ranks. Chorley’s Mark Jeffers and Earby’s Josh Holmes will also be looking to maintain their unbeaten records.

Michael Jennings-trained Jeffers has won all 11 of his contests so far and faces Czech fighter Tomas Bezvoda. “This last year has been frustrating,” said the 23-year-old Central Area champion.

“I’ve spent the time working in the family business (making phone cards) which has given me lots of motivation because it’s made me realise how lucky I am to be a pro boxer.

“I’m definitely ready to move up the levels now. It’s been a fair while since I last boxed (January 2020), so I’ll get this eight-rounder under my belt, and then I’ll fight anyone.

“I’ll leave it up to my team, but I’d fight for some kind of European title, or the British, which I believe I’m good enough to win in my next fight.”

Well-respected fight figure Maree said: “He’s the current Central Area champion, but he’s outgrown that title because there’s nobody in the area that will fight him.

“He’s so well known in the North West, and it’s time for the general public to get to know him now. He’s an absolute superstar in the making, one of the most exciting fighters I’ve been involved with.”

The Dennis Hobson-promoted show is headlined by a heavyweight contest between Rotherham’s Kash Ali and Czech fighter Tomas Salek for the vacant IBF European title.

It is one of a series of shows outside at the Sheffield Arena in conjunction with Fightzone. Some of the undercard will be streamed for free with the app costing £4.99 a month.