It's been a long wait but Launceston boxer Tyler Blizzard will finally make his professional debut on Wednesday night.
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Fighting on the undercard of Harry Garside's Australian Lightweight Title fight with Manuer Matet, the former St Patrick's College student faces Daniel Harwood, who has one win by knockout.
"On paper it's a great fight," Blizzard said
"In my career I don't want to take any easy opponents and I think it's a good first fight to see where I'm at after having five years out of the ring."
Blizzard, now living in NSW, returned to training under the tutelage of three-time world champion Jeff Fenech in July last year, coming back after a five-year lay-off following his extensive amateur and junior career.
However, a bout with COVID pushed it back to Wednesday's No Limits Boxing Promotions card in Sydney, which will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo.
"It's taken a few months to get back on track but here we are in April with a nice, tough fight to start the year off with a bang hopefully," Blizzard said.
"We tried to train during COVID and we thought we were going alright until we went for our first run and that kind of showed what COVID was all about for us."
Making weight comfortably for the super bantamweight bout, Blizzard weighed in at 55.02kg and was assisted by Launceston Boxing Club's Twigs Millwood, who will be in his corner.
Saying he "didn't miss the weight cut side of things" during his long-term ring absence, he admitted he was nervous heading into the fight.
"To be honest, I'm very nervous but this is the sport I chose to do and I'm blessed to be in the position I'm in," he said.
"The nerves are always going to be there, and if they're not, you're not doing it right."
Having friends and family fly in from all over Australia to watch, Blizzard thanked Chris Reissig Builders and Aussie Home Loans Launceston for making his dream possible.