Matthew Still up for a Barney.

Hennessy Sports would like to make it clear that, despite rumours circulating yesterday, Matthew Barney has not withdrawn from his mandatory challenge to British and Commonwealth super middleweight champion Carl Froch on the “Trailblazers’ event at the Nottingham Arena on Saturday July 9th. The 31-year-old from Southampton – who last time out lost a highly controversial decision against European light heavyweight champion Thomas Ulrich – could, in fact, not be up for it more. When asked yesterday if he was out he replied: “No chance. I’m ready to go.”

He added: “I am looking forward to a real good fight and I am looking forward to beating Carl Froch and becoming British and Commonwealth champion.”

“Everybody thinks Froch is a great fighter, but I think he is just a good fighter and I know I am a lot better.”