Junior middleweight Ardreal Holmes Jr. is clear about his ambitions — he wants every fight to take him closer to a title shot.
Holmes will headline Big Time Boxing USA on Thursday night, facing Hugo Noriega in a 10-round main event bout broadcast on DAZN and promoted by Salita Promotions.
Holmes (15-0, 6 KOs) is a 6’2” southpaw who is currently ranked No. 14 by the WBO. The 30-year-old Flint native hopes this fight will take him higher. The Cuban-born Noriega (10-2, 5 KOs), now residing in Miami, suffered two losses in 2023 to junior middleweight Abass Baraou and welterweight Damian Lescaille.
";I feel like this fight should help me crack the top 10 in the WBO and just get me that much closer to the actual title," Holmes said. "I want any fighter that can get me to a title."
Holmes has faced challenges that have delayed his ascent, including multiple layoffs, some due to injuries and some from the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, with the rough comes the smooth and Holmes believes he is making progress at last.
"I feel like where I’m at now should’ve happened about three years ago," Holmes said. "But, you know, everything happens for a reason, so I just keep rolling with the punches."
Holmes’ promoter and former fighter, Dmitry Salita, is confident in his potential. Salita was even pushing for Holmes to step in and face Vergil Ortiz when Tim Tszyu was forced to withdraw. The bout ultimately went to Serhii Bohachuk, but it highlighted the high hopes Salita has for Holmes.
"The junior middleweight division is one of the hottest and most competitive in boxing," Salita told BoxingScene. "Ardreal is a homegrown American contender who has risen from the amateurs to the pros, honed in the boxing-rich state of Michigan. I'm looking forward to an impressive performance from Ardreal as he takes another step closer to a world championship."
Holmes recognizes that his frame, southpaw stance, and ability to gauge distance make him a challenging opponent. In Noriega, he meets a product of the Cuban boxing school - known for its tricky style. Holmes aims to build on his last performance, a second-round stoppage against Marlon Harrington in February. His strategy was clear: Use his height and reach to keep Harrington at the end of his shots, a skill he credits to his coach, Ed Kendall.
"I had a full camp for that fight, and I knew he was a puncher in his backyard, so I couldn’t take any chances—I had to give 100 per cent," Holmes said.
Although Holmes will be representing Flint in the ring, much of his training camp took place in Las Vegas. Still, representing his hometown means everything to Holmes, and headlining the card adds even more significance.
"It’s a small city where everybody knows everybody," Holmes said. "Seeing other champions from Flint, like Claressa [Shields] and the Dirrells, makes you feel like anything is possible. It’s a beautiful thing."
Also on the card is Holmes’ younger brother, Jaquan McElroy, who is the first male boxer signed to Claressa Shields’ promotional company, T-Rex Promotions. Fighting in Flint for the first time as a pro adds pressure, but Holmes is confident it won’t feel much different from his last fight in February.
"I’ve fought in Detroit, so I know a lot of my people will come out. It’s just an hour away, so it’s pretty much going to be the same type of crowd, but with more familiar faces this time," Holmes said.