BRADLEY SAUNDERS is set to go under the knife again after a frustrating and controversial return to action on Saturday night.

The Sedgefield fighter saw his undefeated professional record vanish in Liverpool when he was disqualified for headbutting Frenchman Renald Garrido.

It was unlucky 13 for Saunders – who had won his first 12 pro contests in a row – when he failed to get to grips with Garrido in the light-welterweight clash.

The County Durham boxer had endured six months out of action with a hand injury but was desperate to enter the ring and get some rounds under his belt.

But he was left to rue that decision on a night when Garrido, who lost 11 times without ever being stopped, made life difficult in the early rounds before flooring Saunders in the sixth.

After rising, the 29-year-old stumbled in to referee Steve Gray before blatantly headbutting Garrido and he was disqualified 2:53min in to that round with his opponent injured.

Saunders said: “I don’t want to go out on getting beat. I will learn from it come back.”

But the former Team GB Olympian could face a further lengthy lay-off which could do further harm to his career.

Both of his hands are heavily strapped and Saunders Tweeted: “Sorry all … boxing is a hard sport. Both hands going back to theatre for me.”