Darren Barker vs Simone Rotolo March 9th

Darren Barker will fight Italian champion Simone Rotolo for the Vacant IBF Inter-Continental Middleweight Championship at the top of the bill of Betfair’s ‘London’s Finest’ show at Wembley Arena on March 9, live on Sky Sports.

Rotolo (35-3), who hasn't tasted defeat since a 2007 European title fight against former World champion German Sebastian Sylvester, was due to face Barker at Alexandra Palace in September before injury forced the Barnet-born boxer to withdraw.

“I have watched him,” said Barker. “I suppose there is a sense, a little bit, of unfinished business as well where I had to pull out of the September fight so it will be good to get in there and put this one behind me, put on a good performance and really crack on.

“He is experienced, he has had 30-odd fights, and he is in his late 30s so he knows his way around the ring. He will be looking to make things difficult.

There are Southern Area title bouts for Ryan Taylor against Liam Shinkwin at lightweight and Chris Evangelou in a rematch of the tasty light welterweight title fight edged by Danny Connor when the pair clashed in September. Unbeaten Islington middleweight John Ryder and former Team GB star Martin J. Ward are also in action in fights to be announced soon.

Tickets for Betfair’s ‘London’s Finest’ are on sale now priced £20, £30, £40, £60 and £80 from the Wembley Arena box office on 0844 815 0815 & VIP tickets priced £150 are available through Matchroom Boxing on 01277 359900 and at www.matchroomboxing.com.