Barker believes he can take Euro title

Barking and Dagenham Recorder Len Whaley31st March, 2010

DARREN BARKER is looking forward to his European middleweight title challenge at Alexandra Palace on Friday April 9, as vital tests loom for local boxers in championship clashes over the next nine days, writes LEN WHALEY.

Barker meets Frenchman Affif Belghecham for the middleweight belt on the Matchroom bill, now featuring two European title fights - heavyweights Audley Harrison and Michael Sprott also clash for an EBU title.

Barker, a former Commonwealth games gold medal winner at Repton BC, is relishing the chance to fight for the European title, vacated by Matthew Macklin due to injury.

"I was always going to be European champion at some point, but it's good to get the opportunity sooner rather than later," said the unbeaten Barker, whose record stands at an impressive 21 straight victories with 14 inside the distance.

Two other local boxers, Colin Lynes and Michael Lomax, also join in the April championship chase, knowing that victory will bring a new lease of life to their careers.

Lynes gets his championship chance against Commonwealth light-welterweight title-holder Ajose Olusegun at Manchester on Saturday night on the Hayemaker promotion, headed by David Haye's WBA world heavyweight title clash with John Ruiz.

Lomax returns at the Alexandra Palace on Friday, April 9, when he is looking to end the reign of Southern Area welter champion Lee Purdy - a stablemate of Barker at trainer Tony Sims' Hainault gym - on the Matchroom bill.

The 32-year-old Lynes, a former British and European titleholder was beaten in his last fight by Gavin Rees after reaching the Prizefighter light-welterweight final in December.

He knows that victory over Commonwealth champion Olusegun, who is unbeaten in 27 professional contests, will hoist him back into the world rankings and rank him alongside the best wins in his 12-year pro campaign.

His stablemate, the tall stylist Lomax, also coached by trainer Paul Cook, is looking to get back to a winning note after his last appearance, when he was beaten by Sheffield star Kell Brook in a British title clash at the MEN Arena in Manchester last July.

The 31-year-old former West Ham amateur Lomax considered his fighting future after that defeat, and needs to come back with a good win, but Purdy is no easy test.

The Southern Area welterweight champion took the title last year, beating Peter McDonagh and avenging the single defeat he has suffered in his 15-fight pro campaign.