SEDGEFIELD'S undefeated Jeff Saunders will return to the ring later this month looking to up his game in Dunston, writes Peter Mann.

Saunders, who in his last outing in July recorded one of the fastest stoppage wins in boxing history when he stopped Istvan Kiss in just 15 seconds, fell just five seconds short of equalling Phil Williams' victory over Brandon Burke in ten back in 2007.

Now, with elder brother Bradley on the sidelines with long-term injury, and with his own excursion into fatherhood for the first time (partner Lorrena gave birth to Lily Saunders early last month), Jeff will aim to put together a busy finish to 2015.

“I need to be able to get some rounds in, more so as I believe I’ll be stepping up to sixes soon,” said Saunders.

“There’ll be some tough fights ahead and I’m feeling really good at the minute, training hard and hope that, with this one, I’ll be able to go a bit longer and be taken into the trenches a bit more. That’s what I want to do anyway and I’m not going to go looking for the stoppage for I need this to become more of a learning fight.

“I know Brad will be by my side though and he’s over the moon with the way I’m progressing. Although we are very competitive with each other we are always there for each other as well, we always have been.”

Being trained by his father, Jeff Snr, since his amateur days, young Saunders also relies on the guidance and expertise afforded by Ian Glass from Muscle World HQ in Hartlepool. Come fight night he will be opposing Poland's experienced Sylwester Walczak over four rounds.

Walczak has won four of his 23 outings to date and has been stopped five times. He is known to British fans having opposed several over the past 24 months including, in May 2014, an outing against Craig Dixon for the then International Masters strap with Dixon winning over eight.

Saunders said: “With my last opponent (Kiss) he managed to throw a couple of shots before I caught him so I’ll hopefully use the distance in this to implement some new things I’ve been learning in the gym.”

At Gus Robinson’s gym in Hartlepool, meanwhile, they’ll be unleashing a new fighter into the paid ranks as 29-year-old Richard O’Neill makes his bow.

O’Neill, who resides in Ferryhill, comes in at over 6ft and has amateur background from both there and Spennymoor, where he had been for the past three years before finally deciding to turn over.

He said: “I went to Canada in June with Rob Ellis and the Spennymoor lads which was a great experience for me but I really needed to give it a go.

“There just seemed as though there wasn’t much going for me, not active enough and I was training constantly for no real reward and had seven pull-outs over the past 12 months. Going to Cope’s gym was just logical though; I know Nigel Wright pretty well and they’ve been around for some time producing some good boxers, have good knowledge and talented coaches.”

Also appearing on the show is Fighting Chance trio Craig Dixon, Mark White and Jone TK Taukeinikoro, as well as Tom Whitfield returning from injury and fighting for the first time since defeating Daniel Cope at Rainton Meadows earlier this year.

Tickets for the show are on sale from the fighters on the Sudden Impact show, or from the Relentless Promotions Box Office via www.relentlesspromotions.co.uk/box-office priced at £35 Standard, £40 Ringside, £50 VIP Private Balcony & Bar or £60 VIP Private Balcony, Bar & Food. Doors open at 6pm with the first fight scheduled for 7.45pm.