By Sanjeev Shetty BBC Sport Online

Audley Harrison will return to the ring on 5 October for his seventh professional bout.

The bout against an as yet unconfirmed opponent will take place at the Liverpool Olympia.

Harrison has been training In the Canary Islands in preparation for the bout.

Unbeaten in six professional fights, he made his last appearance on 10 July, with a six-round decision win over Essex's Dominic Negus.

Earlier this month his manager Colin McMillan told BBC Sport Online that he hoped to get Harrison into the ring at least twice before the end of the year.

"I'm trying to get the nuts and bolts for the next promotion sorted and hopefully get Audley at least two more fights before the end of the year," said McMillan, former featherweight world champion.

"The first fight will probably be against a foreign opponent.

"I've got a couple of guys in mind [for Audley] who I've looked at before - the most important thing is that we're looking at different types of styles to complete that learning curve."

Harrison has already had three fights this year, as many as he managed during an injury-plagued 2001.

While Harrison is still subjected to criticism from many in boxing, his manager admits that he has been satisfied by the progress made in 2002.

"I'm a lot happier this year - last year the injuries were a problem," McMillan said.

"The opposition has improved, his condition had improved - it's been an improvement all round.

"The key now is to keep that momentum going and then hopefully next year we'll be in some sort of position to challenge for a championship."