YORK boxer John Patrick Harker returns to the ring on Friday evening as he looks to avenge his professional debut defeat.

Harker was beaten on a narrow 39-38 points decision last month by the veteran journeyman Brett Fidoe, who went to record another shock win over former WBO European champion Tyrone McCullagh by knockout in June.

Remarkably, Harker returns to the ring less than a month after that early career setback and will be seeking a maiden win when he faces Hull’s Luke Fash, another seasoned pro of 64 fights.

York boxing legend Henry Wharton, a former three-time world title challenger, will be in Harker’s corner at the Sheffield Arena Car Park and he is backing his prospect to rally from the Fidoe loss.

“I take positives from that first fight,” said the trainer. “Many fighters would have buckled and wouldn’t have taken the fight because he was a late replacement.

“But John Patrick took the fight and I cannot knock him because he knew the scenario and he took it on.

“He will learn ten-fold from that. In order to get champions, you’ve got to take on everyone because nobody gives titles away.”

Harker made a bright start in the fight against Fidoe, but struggled to hold off the Wordsley boxer in the second half of the four-round contest.

Reflecting on the bout, Wharton added: “It was a shock because I thought John Patrick won and watching it back I thought he won.

“John Patrick has boxed possibly one of the best journeymen in the country, who is one the prime of his life with 80-odd pro fights and who drew with (British and Commonwealth champion) Brad Foster.

“In the fight, John Patrick showed character, he showed ability and he went through the gears.

“For a young man of his age and his young boxing life, that shows the sign of a champion in the making.”

Harker’s return to the ring will be broadcast on Fight Zone, the streaming service that broadcast his last fight as well as the recent outings by York fighters Rob Magill and Rafal Benka.

Given the limited boxing shows running at present amid the limitations brought on by the coronavirus restrictions, having a consistent outlet is proving hugely beneficial for fighters out of the Henry’s Gym.

“Fight Zone is not going to go anywhere,” added Wharton. “It’s a breath of fresh air which has come out of the blue to us.

“When we do get shows back on, we can use Fight Zone, which we’re linked to, and we can use all the other outlets, which means that our lads will be able to get out more than they would do normally.

“In your professional career, you’re usually fighting a maximum of four or five times a year. Our lads could possibly be fighting six or seven times because they don’t want to be sat in the gym without fights.”

Wharton’s training is not just limited to professionals as he also has a large amateur stable, who have been back in the gym after being kept away for much of 2020 amid the pandemic.

He said: “It’s nice to see people coming through the door with a smile on their faces instead of thinking, ‘Is this my last session? Are we going to get shut down again?’

“When the kids walk through this door, it should feel like, ‘This is somewhere I can keep coming’, rather than ‘We don’t know when we’re coming next’.”