Purse bids are looming for new European Middleweight Champion Darren Barker's mandatory defence against former champ Matthew Macklin and the Birmingham based Irishman wants it made very clear that he's ready, willing and able to claim back his old title against Barker.

Macklin vacated the European crown in March rather than hold it up after he suffered an injury at Freddie Roach's Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles while training for his first defence. That gave Barker the opportunity to contest the vacant title with Affif Belghecham with the Londoner eventually emerging victorious on points after a titanic struggle with his French opponent.

 
Nati's compatriot Giuseppe Lauri will be hoping for better luck when European Championship boxing finally returns to The King's Hall on Friday when Light Welterweight Champion Paul McCloskey makes the first defence of his crown on the Yanjing Fight Night. Lauri arrived in Belfast last night ahead of the clash and the 34-year-old challenger is confident that he has what it takes to bring the European belt back to Italy.