DORSET boxer Iain Weaver will emerge from a 20-month hibernation and into the “last chance saloon” when he enters the ring against gnarled veteran Jason Nesbitt in Crawley on Saturday.

The 27-year-old is free to lace up his gloves again after he secured a fighting licence with the Malta Boxing Commission.

Weaver cited the example of 2000 Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison – who has the same arachnoid cyst on his brain as Weaver and was granted a licence by the British Boxing Board of Control – in his latest bid to box under the auspices of his home body.

He failed in that court challenge, though, and, in the words of dad and trainer Jay, became “despondent" about his chances of carving out a successful career in his sport.

Receiving the go-ahead from the MBC two months ago, however, imbued Weaver with a renewed sense of purpose and he has brushed off the body blow of having his initial comeback plans shattered in February, when his scheduled opponent, Ghanaian Samuel Turkson, failed to secure a visa to fight in this country.

He has prepared for this weekend's bout by training at altitude in Tenerife, where he has been sparring with exceptional twins Liam and Ryan Walsh.

Super featherweight Liam will challenge for Gervonta Davis's IBF world title on May 20, with Ryan fighting for the British featherweight belt against Belfast's Marc McCullough on the same Copper Box Arena bill.

Jay Weaver told the Daily Echo: "I have trained Iain since he was three years old and I know when he is ticking and when he is not.

"He is in the last chance saloon and he has to knuckle down if he wants to make a go of it.

"You have to pull him back because he peaks so quickly. He has a very good engine. It didn’t take him long to get used to those altitude runs in Tenerife.

"The twins have been out there for four months. Iain was there a week and on his last run with them he beat them, so they were a bit sick about that."

Weaver's decorated amateur career saw him win 95 of his 115 contests, claim silver at the 2010 European Championships and, in the same year, win the featherweight crown at the Commonwealth Boxing Championships.

And should everything go to plan against Midlander Nesbitt, a 44-year old with a startling 212 fights under his belt, Jay says the plan is for his son to make rapid strides through his lightweight division.

"I know the clock is ticking," continued Jay. "Iain is 27 now but he hasn’t been in any real hard Championship fights and is still fresh.

"We will get this fight out of the way, then we have the choice of either boxing in Dubai or on a show in Spain.

"His last fight being cancelled was a kick in the teeth but now it is all systems go."

Tickets for Saturday's bout are available from Jay Weaver: 07971 295869.