Barker wins on return to the ring

Barker is unbeaten in 22 professional fights

Darren Barker regained his European middleweight crown with a points win over Italy’s Domenico Spada at Olympia.

Barker was forced to surrender his belt after being sidelined with a serious hip injury last year but enjoyed a victorious return to the ring.

The Londoner was declared the winner after the judges scored the contest 115-113 and 116-113 after 12 rounds.

The win, which extends Barker’s run to 22 unbeaten, could hand him the chance of a world title fight later this year.

“I haven’t been in the ring for a year so there was a bit of rust, which I didn’t honestly think there would be,” Barker told Sky Sports.

“But it did creep up on me. That’s not taking anything away from Spada – what a tough opponent he was. Those early rounds were very valuable and they’re in the bank now, so onwards and upwards.”