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Matthew Barney (right) has challenged fellow Hampshire boxer Dean Francis to a rematch in the ring

HARTLEY Wintney boxer Matthew Barney wants the chance to challenge Basingstoke's Dean Francis for his British and Commonwealth belts - and he claims that Francis cannot call himself the champion of Hampshire until the two meet.

"Deano" took possession of the British light-heavyweight title by knocking out Tony Oakey in Portsmouth last month, adding the Lonsdale belt to the Commonwealth title he already held.

However, 34-year-old Barney is one of just three men to have defeated the Basingstoke champ in his 33-fight career, beating him on points at Wembley in March 2003 to claim the British super-middleweight crown.

Both boxers have since moved up to light-heavyweight and Barney, a former world title holder, thinks that he should now be given the chance to fight for Francis' belts.

"I want to put a challenge in to Dean," Barney said. "He is not even champion of Hampshire, let alone Britain and the Commonwealth, because he has never beaten me.

"I am ranked above him according to Boxing Monthly and he would not have to go far to face me. I am only down the road in Hartley Wintney.

"I am confident that I would knock him out, but there is only one way to find out."

Barney, who has a record of 25 wins, six defeats and one draw, moved up to light-heavyweight after losing to Carl Froch in July 2005.

He has had four successful fights in the higher division, two of which have been points victories over Ayittey Powers, who Francis knocked out to claim the IBO Intercontinental title last June.

This is not the first time that Barney has challenged Francis to fight him - and the British and Commonwealth champion was quick to dismiss a rematch.

"Matthew Barney would be an unnecessary fight for me," Francis said.

"It is onwards and upwards for me. He has nothing that I need so I'm not really interested in fighting him again.

"He is the most defensive fighter there is. He just runs and runs and that makes for boring fights. Me beating him is not a fight that the public want to see."

Talking about the last time the two faced each other, Francis, now 34, said: "When we met before, I fought the whole 12 rounds with one hand because I was worried about my shoulder popping out. He should not even be counting that as a win."

Francis treated himself to a holiday in Las Vegas following his win over Oakey but is now back in the country and looking to get a date set for his next fight.

"There are a lot of things on the table," he said. "I need to meet my promoter Frank Warren, get a clear head and decide what I want to do next."

11:13am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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