‘The Dark Horse’ of Irish boxing isn’t in a rush to gallop to the front.

Ciaran Mullen ends five years away from the fight game with a Cruiserweight debut in Spain on Friday night and is planning to chip away the final pieces of ring rust over four competitive rounds.

The Dubliner elected to return to the fight game after watching big fights on TV and believing he had more ability that those he was watching.

Opponent Tomas Samusas or the Lights Out at the Plaza show won’t provide Mullen with the chance to grab instant spotlight, but he is aware it’s a work in progress and he has to take his time.

“I was away from boxing for 5 years,” he told Irish-boxing.com

“You know yourself you have your young years and you can get distracted away from the gym and that. I always followed the game and when I was watching fights I would say to myself ‘I could do better than that’. So I am here to do better than that. I think I have the talent to go all the way, but I am not in a massive rush.

“Seen as I was out for so long there is an element of ring rust so I will be taking time. It is fight by fight basis for me at the minute. I have been taking the ring rust off in the gym and I reckon the last bit will come off in this fight.”

The 24 year old, who MGM label the ‘Dark Horse’ of Irish boxing is looking forward to his debut but the softly spoken big man certainly doesn’t seem nervous.

“I am looking forward to it, but surprsingly I am very relaxed. Everyone out here keeps saying I am really chilled, that might change on the night, we’ll see. I am just focus on getting the win for now.”