Darren Barker confident of winning return

Darren Barker has declared that he has a renewed sense of desire and plans to take out his injury frustrations on Kerry Hope this weekend.

Barker has been out of the ring for more than 14 months with a succession of injuries but returns on Saturday to face Hope in a meeting of former European champions.

The Barnet middleweight believes that his experience at the top level will prove the difference at the London Olympia.

He said: "I am training with a smile on my face, as hard as it is, and I am enjoying the sport again and looking to take on the world, get back up there.

"I look forward to proving to myself and to the people that I have still got it. I am a young 30 and if I look at some of the rivals in the division.

"I don't want to look beyond Kerry, I would never be that naïve, and my experience tells me not to overlook him. But if I was to put Kerry aside I don't think I am far from if not the tail end of the top 10 just outside it and I am looking to take on any of the world champions out there afterwards."

The domestic middleweight clash tops the Olympia bill after Lee Purdy was forced out of a welterweight bout against Carson Jones with a virus.