Nevin was attacked with a bat studded with nails in his home town of Mullingar. The boxer was reportedly trying to defuse an argument between members of his extended family and was described as being in the wrong place at the wrong time

The Olympic silver medallist needed surgery after the beating and has been recuperating in the US.

He is set to fight a four-round bout in the House of Dreams in North Carolina on Saturday night, against an as yet unnamed opponent.

Tom Moran of Nevin’s management agency Greenblood told irish-boxing.com that the 25-year-old boxer was keen to get back in the ring.

“We decided after how good John Joe looked sparring against top class guys in Philly that he was ready for a ‘normal’ fight,” said Moran. “It will be against an average opponent, just somebody to let him get the fight day feeling back. This is a chance for him to get his feet wet, get back into the ring and work his craft.”

Nevin won a silver medal for Ireland at Bantamweight in London 2012 and turned professional in 2013.

Before the attack he had taken in part in one professional fight, on St Patrick’s Day this year. He won the Super Featherweight bout against Alberto Candelaria by unanimous decision.