Former Irish Elite amateur champion Gary Sweeney is out to cut Lithuanian giant Imantas Davidaitis down to size when they clash in Brentwood on Saturday night.

Undefeated Galway-born Mayo cruiserweight Sweeney (3-0, 3KOs) returns to the ring after a 13-month absence this weekend, with an undercard bout on MTK Global’s ‘Pride & Glory’ fight bill at the Brentwood Centre.

Action gets underway at 6pm on Saturday after a schedule change, with iFL TV set to stream the entire card live from the Essex venue.

Sweeney, a former European Youth silver medallist, has been out of action since November of last year due to a back injury, but the 23-year-old is keen to shake off any remaining ring rust ahead of what he hopes will be a busy 2018.

“I’ve been out over a year, so I’m just looking forward to getting back in with a bang,” said Sweeney. “I have an abscess on my tailbone and I still have to get that operated on. It’s very awkward and painful, but I’ll be fit for Saturday and I’ll be going for surgery after I get this fight out of the way.

“I’ve been doing a fair bit of sparring and I think a fair bit of the rust came off, but obviously when you’re not in there fighting you don’t really know, so I’m looking forward to getting a proper fight.”

Lithuanian journeyman  Davidaitis (6-25-1) will be in the opposing corner for Sweeney’s four-rounder and the Irishman expects the 6ft 8½in giant to present a unique challenge.

“He’s a big lad,” said 'The Gallant' Gary. “I’ve never boxed someone so tall – the tallest I’ve boxed was about 6ft 3in or 6ft 4in –but I’m going to chop him down to size!

 “This is the longest break I’ve had so I’m really keen to get in there and mix it up. Even in the amateurs I was always active and fighting every few weeks, but this is the longest I’ve been out.

“I’m just looking forward to getting back in, getting the win and 2018 is going to be a big year for me,” added Sweeney, who is trained by his brother and veteran pro Michael.

Joe Mullender will face Welshman Lee Churcher for the Vacant IBF European Middleweight Championship next Saturday at London's Copper Box Arena.

The 31-year-old from Brentwood takes on Churcher over 12-rounds for the belt that instantly propels the winner into the top-15 in the IBF World rankings.

Mullender was crowned the new English Middleweight Champion back in June after beating former Champion and club mate Lee Markham to avenge his loss at the 02 Arena in 2016.

He decided to vacate his English title in September in order to secure a shot at the IBF title but is still determined to secure a British title showdown with Frank Warren stablemate Tommy Langford in 2018.

“The British title is 100 per cent in my sights still,” asserted the Essex boxer. “But given the option to fight for this IBF belt and earn a top-15 World ranking, it’s silly to turn it down because just one or two defences and you could get up in the top-5 in the World.

"You never know what opportunities that could lead to – someone with the World title may choose you as a voluntary defence and every fight could also push you up further for the British.”

Newport's Churcher, 37, holds a record of 13 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw and is currently enjoying a 7-fight winning streak that stretches back to September 2011.

James DeGale MBE (23-1-1, 14 KOs) tops an unmissable evening of boxing in the capital when he makes the fourth defence of his IBF Super-Middleweight World Title against American Caleb Truax (28-3-2, 18 KOs); Lee Selby (25-0-1, 9 KO's) defends his IBF Featherweight crown against Mexico's Eduardo Ramirez (20-0-3, 7 KO's);

Light-Heavyweight ‘Beast’ Anthony Yarde (13-0, 12 KOs) defends his WBO Intercontinental and European belts against Nikola Sjekloca (32-4-1, 11 KOs), Heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois (5-0, 5 KOs) aims to continue his KO streak when he faces former Anthony Joshua opponent Dorian Darch (12-5-1, 1 KO) in his sixth contest;

Hugely-popular former English Welterweight Champion Johnny Garton (20-1-1 7 KOs) fights for the Vacant IBF European Welterweight title;

WBO European Lightweight Champion Craig Evans features in an eight round International contest and rising talents Archie Sharp (Welling), Sanjeev Sahota (Hornchurch), Ben Smith (Wycombe), Hamza Sheeraz (Ilford), Umar Sadiq (Ilford) and debutant Harvey Horn (Chigwell) complete an action-packed night of boxing.

Feisty Peckham crowd pleaser Johnny Garton concedes he’s like a kid at Christmas.

The man they call ‘The Pexican’ in honour of his rough and ready ring manner enjoys an unexpected berth on Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren’s festive fiesta at London’s Copper Box Arena on December 9th.

The 30 year old ex Southern Area and English champion contests the vacant IBF European title on the undercard of James DeGale and Lee Selby's IBF world title defences and knows that an impressive victory is likely to cement a crack at the British title and a slot in the IBF world rankings.

‘Turning pro, I never thought I’d get anywhere near as far as I have,’ claims the chirpy south Londoner who has lost just once in 22 (7 early wins).

‘My goal starting out was simply to fight for a Southern Area belt, win or lose. I’ve already gone way beyond that. If I had to retire tomorrow, I’d be more than happy with my career.’

With 10 defeats in 35 bouts and just a brace of South-East London Divisional titles to garnish his amateur CV, grafter Garton was a long shot to hit the heights when he entered the profession, well into his 25th year, back in October 2011.

However, the free swinging slugger has made giant strides since trainer Al Smith convinced him that, in the austere world of paid prize fighting, it’s far more profitable to give than to receive.

‘As an amateur, a friend took me around loads of gyms to spar and I spent time at Al’s iBox gym, working with Bradley Skeete. In 2011, Al offered me a trial, I came through and signed to go pro with him,’ recalls Garton.

‘It’s such a brilliant gym to be a part of.  Al lives for his boxing and all the lads do everything together; win, lose, laugh, socialise. It’s obligatory to turn up if a gym mate is boxing. We’re all very close.

‘Whereas I was about all out aggression in the amateurs, Al’s very defence minded and we’ve gradually reached a compromise that suits and succeeds. I still march forward but now I move me head....occasionally!

‘I do graft hard in the gym but I’ve had such tough hard spars that I have to learn. I’ve worked with the likes of Andy Lee, Liam Williams, Gary Corcoran, Larry Ekundayo, Selcuk Aydin and Josh Kelly but (British welter champion) Bradley Skeete is probably the most important person behind my improvement. He has such a good jab and is so clever. He’s going way beyond British level.’

The sole reverse in his six year paid career was a second round cuts loss to future British and European boss Sam Eggington in an April 2014 Prizefighter sprint.

‘Sam gave me a real beating but I still enjoyed it. I just love fighting!’ quips the former car mechanic who has a five month old daughter

‘Him going on to do so well did me a huge favour. Al never wanted me to enter anyway and his game plan went out the window the moment Sam landed on me. I just had a ‘tear-up’ and came up short. Al gave me a real grilling afterwards!’

Suitably chastened, he listened, learned and recovered sufficiently to obtain and retain both the Southern Area and English 147lb titles between 2014-16.

‘On December 9th I hope to excite, do full justice to the ‘Pexican’ nickname that my fans have given me and strengthen my case for a British title fight early next year. That’s the plan!’ says Garton.

‘I’ve not fought since April so I just hope that whoever comes out of the opposite corner will stand and give me a right good scrap. Whenever there’s been a title on the line and the opposition brings a winning record and a bit of ambition, I win by stoppage. They take a few risks and I can ‘get hold of ‘em’!

 ‘A win at the Copper Box will put me right into the British title mix for when Bradley opts to vacate. That’s the one belt I’ve most wanted to box for. Hopefully, I can challenge whoever in February or March. Now I’m definitely top five in Britain and on the verge.’