Gary Sweeney is ready to show Irish fight fans that he has been worth the wait.

The former amateur heavyweight champion was set to trade leather as a pro in South Africa last year only for the card to fall through and Irish fight fans were intrigued to find out how the Westerner would fair in the pro ranks.

The Galway cruiserweight will end a ‘nightmare’ wait when he punches for pay for the first time on the ‘Clash of The Clans’ card in the National Stadium on February 6th – and Sweeney is determined to show his wares to the Irish fight fans and the watching TV audience.

“I am delighted to be finally getting started,” Sweeney told Irish-boxing.com.

“All this waiting around to fight has been a nightmare. I was due to fight in South Africa, but that didn’t go ahead. So when I came back to we talked with MGM and they were waiting to get me on a show. That show isn’t far away now, just under four weeks and I really can’t wait,” he added.

“It’s a big show at the National Stadium and I will be live on Boxnation. It is a big opportunity for me and I am going to show everyone what I can do.”

Sweeney is an exciting addition to the a growing division and he is excited to be joining the cruiserweight mix.

“First things first the plan for 2016 is just to keep winning. I think the cruiserweight division is a good division. You have few like Big Tommy McCarthy, Dave Maguire and even my brother (Micheal Sweeney) I think it is good and healthy and it only helps you have a few young guys like myself coming in.”

The younger of the fighting Sweeney brothers comes into the pro game with amateur pedigree, but it is his World Series of Boxing experience that could prove vital in him moving up the ladder that bit quicker.

“I think the WSB experience will stand to me. I fought over five rounds in the WSB and those fights are like pro bouts. So you could say I have broken into the pros by fighting at that level in that competition.”