The Gunnedah fighter, 23, will be part of the big "Bad Intentions 6" fight night at Gunnedah Town Hall on Saturday.

He will confront Canberra's Lee Fook, a Muay Thai fighter who lost his pro boxing debut last month, over four rounds at a catchweight of 64kg.

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"I feel like I can definitely get this guy with my speed and what I've been working on," Nolan said.

Hailing from Neilrex, Nolan has experienced intense highs and jolting lows since arriving in Gunnedah more than three years ago.

Not necessarily in chronological order: his father, Anthony "Buddy" Nolan, died; he won his pro debut; he suffered a serious knee injury that resulted in his weight ballooning 15kg; he scored a job at Whitehaven's Narrabri mine.

Also, his partner, Ashleigh Thomas - whom he was previously long-term friends with - joined him in Gunnedah; he resumed boxing training after knee surgery; he and Thomas bought a home.

Moving to Gunnedah was "one of the best decisions of our lives", he said, adding: "We've settled in nicely; Gunnedah's a good little town."

When he first came to town, Nolan stayed with his trainer David "Spike" Syphers. They initially met when Nolan was an amateur fighter. In late 2017, Syphers steered Nolan to an Amateur Boxing League national title.

After winning his pro debut at bantamweight (53.5kg) at Gunnedah in 2018, Nolan tore his medial collateral ligament playing first grade for the Binnaway Bombshells in Group 14.

After having surgery on the knee, he reunited with Syphers at Black 'n' Blue Boxing in Gunnedah.

He plans to shed more weight after Saturday's fight and keeping boxing.

"It's gonna be nerve-racking," he said of Saturday's contest. "I get pretty nervous when I think about it. But I known that when the bell rings, all my nerves will go away."

His younger brother Marcus, who is living with him, will make his amateur debut on the same card on Saturday. While Enja Prest - the Gunnedah-based former national super welterweight amateur champion - will make her long-awaited pro debut.

In all, there will be six pro fights and a number of amateur contests.

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