After an injury-plagued year spent on the sidelines, former World title challenger Darren Barker is ready to return on Saturday, December 8.
Barker takes on Kerry Hope at the London Olympia in a meeting of former European middleweight champions.
'Dazzling' Darren caught up with Sports Mole ahead of the domestic dust-up to talk redemption, the long road back to fitness and chasing the dream of becoming world champion.
What does it mean to finally make your long-awaited return before the end of 2012?
"I'm really happy, really pleased. When I did my bicep over the summer I was absolutely gutted but looking ahead I wanted to try and get back before Christmas. I knew Eddie Hearn had this show and without trying to rush the comeback I am over the moon to be on this show."
Are you finally injury-free and medically cleared to return?
"I have had a follow-up scan on the bicep and it's as good as new. The doctor is happy for me to crack on now. The hip is good. I must re-iterate, the bicep problem was a freak injury, I caught an elbow in sparring and tore some fibres. After the scan they were worried I ruptured the whole arm but luckily it's repaired. My long-term problem was with the hip but I can honestly say everything is fine. Now I need to look forward. I'm a young 30-year-old, there aren't many miles on the clock and I feel like my best years are still ahead."
Do you feel you needed a domestic test like Kerry to motivate you, someone that will look to push the pace and put you under pressure?
"Definitely, 100%, and I'm looking to show everyone the difference in levels between European and world-title contention. I will prove on the 8th that I am a league above because this is a perfect fight for me. Now we've done the press conference and I've had a chance to gauge my opponent I can really focus on beating him. Every time I whack the bags or the pads I'll visualise his head."
Has it been hard not to pay attention to some of the big fights in the middleweight division during your absence?
"I mean it's hard not to really because I'm at World level at my best. Every time I heard about the division or watched a big fight I'd get this feeling in the pit of my stomach which means that the fire is still burning. That was the turning point for me, it made me realise I need to carry on. If I watched these fights and didn't care then I'd retire but I have the buzz for boxing again and I'm ready to push on."
Will you make any changes in training to try and prevent further injury setbacks?
"No I'm honestly not worried as I train hard and in the right way. In this sport there are no shortcuts, it's not like football where you have ten other players to help you. If I have a bad day in the ring there's nobody there to help me, I get beat and get hurt. This is the best I have felt in camp, training really hard with Lee Purdy three times a day and I genuinely feel brand new."
Do you feel like you have unfinished business in 2012 after being forced out of the September card at Alexandra Palace?
"I owe the fans definitely, but more importantly I owe it to myself. I've invested so much time in this sport, my blood, sweat and tears. I think boxing owes me something now. I plan to keep plugging away and I won't be content until I become world champion. I want to fight at world level again. The beauty of the middleweight division is that there is a buzz at domestic level and internationally. I've proved before that I'm happy to go abroad and fight the best so hopefully I can do that again next year."
