COUNTY Durham boxer Jeff Saunders is used to having to dig in and deliver, having had to endure rigorous schedules during his time in the army's parachute regiment.

And he will be drawing on all of those experiences of living on the beaches in his bid to reach the top of professional sport, having chosen to take the next step in his unbeaten 11-fight career.

Saunders, speaking from the Fishburn gym where he has honed his skills for the last 15 years, has announced a long-term deal with renowned promoter Frank Warren this week. His focus over the next few months will be on making his return to the ring under his new management in September.

The aim between now and then is to ensure he doesn’t let himself down, believing he has given himself the best possible chance to take his boxing to new heights having already worked hard to get where he is.

“My routine between now and then will be to move the bedroom into the gym!” said Saunders. “I will train three or four times a day, have a Sunday off. I will be hitting the roads, helped by my coach, and dad, Jeff, and my other coach Mark McGuinness.

“I will be regularly going to Michael Turner’s Eclipse Fitness in Sedgefield. I have a brilliant team around us. It’s all on my doorstep but why change a winning formula just because I have changed a promoter? I have everyone around me and it’s worked to get me where I am so it will keep working.”

Saunders won two schoolboys’ titles, two junior boxing crowns, fought for England 25 times and only lost twice, though he fell out with the amateur game because he felt he deserved more outings at that international level.

In 2013 he was crowned Senior ABA champion at Rainton Meadows before committing two years purely to the army. “I passed what I needed to get into the parachute regiment, and that’s one of the hardest things there is to pass, so that shows what I can do when I want something,” he said.

“I did overseas exercises with the army. I was in for four years in total, there was no conflict. We went to Corsica, had four weeks training with the French Foreign Legion, living in snow holes in the mountains and living on beaches. It was an incredible experience.

“Preparing for fights is nothing compared to that. It’s hard but it’s put me in good stead. My dad and brother Bradley used to struggle to get me out of bed when I was younger, but the paras’ motto was ‘if it ain’t raining you are training’. That has served me well.”

Jeff’s elder brother, Bradley, recently returned to the pro game after overcoming injury. He had an exceptional amateur record, fighting at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. That was something Jeff never got to do, but he wants to succeed under Warren on the pro stage.

“Brad gives me advice all the time,” said Jeff. “More so in the ring when we are sparring. We get along brilliantly in and out of the ring. We do stuff together. When it comes to the gym, or when he is out with injuries, he still puts his bit in.

“I have looked up to him since day one because he is my brother and he has been in with the best in the world so he can’t be far wrong can he?

“I know you have to make a lot of sacrifices, you need to knock on the head going out with your mates. It’s not all roses. I have picked up injuries, in my back, but you have have to keep going and keep your eyes on the prize.”

Since Saunders’ debut victory over Sandor Racz in April 2015 at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, he has gone onto win all 11 of his fights; six by stoppage. This is not a boxer just starting a fresh, although he is desperate for the move to be worthwhile after parting from Steve Wraith with his blessing.

He said: “I am touching domestic title level now and I need to be on the big stage, he can provide that and the pay days so I can provide for the family. It will bring the best out of me in that ring.

“Frank Warren has come along at the perfect time, just to get my uplift in the gym again. I want the excited Jeff back again. I am in no rush, definitely not, I am 25. I don’t need to be, there’s still things I can learn.

“I will do whatever I am told when my team and Frank think I am ready. But I have had 11 fights on the pro stage and I am ready for anyone though. I have a bit behind me so there maybe a bit of extra pressure. I am more than confident in myself that I can pull it off.

“If you are in this game and you don’t think about being world champion then you may as well hang your gloves up. I believe I can be, but the next two years I will see what comes.

“I have my eyes on the English strap first, take it from there. Then the British, European, Worlds … I have to have the belief otherwise I might as well change job.”