BENDIGO'S former Australian heavyweight champion Justin Whitehead is preparing for his first bout in nearly 12 months.
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The 45-year-old will face Herman 'The Herminator' Ene-Purcell in an official eliminator to challenge reigning Australian champion Willie Nasio.
Whitehead enters the October 22 bout in Toowoomba as the number two ranked heavyweight in the country, despite not having a fight since losing a unanimous points decision to New Zealand-based American Julius Long in November last year.
At 21, Ene-Purcell is more than half Whitehead's age.
He boasts a 10-5 win-loss records, with five of those wins by knockout.
If you think his name is familiar it might be because two of Ene-Purcell's losses have come against Cronulla NRL and New South Wales State of Origin captain Paul Gallen.
Whitehead is the lightest he has been in years, tipping the scales at about 105kg.
He said he would head to Queensland "physically and mentally refreshed" after his absence from the ring.
"I've come back feeling good ... I wasn't sure how the body would respond," Whitehead said.
"A lot of it is due to your mindset, but I'm back on track - a few things in my personal life have started to find their way.
"Boxing has always been a positive for me and I think my training will reflect in my performance."
Whitehead viewed still being in the title picture at 45 as a bonus at this point in his career.
"It's a good opportunity for him and the same goes for me coming into the twilight of things," he said.
"It'll certainly let me know where I stand against a good up-and comer.
"He's won his last couple and is just young and hungry and fit, but I’ve handled those blokes well before.”
Whitehead has been complementing his boxing sessions at the California Gully gym of Pat and Gary Connolly with weekly training under the watch of Stewart Moulden, from Stewie's House of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.