Dudley’s Darren McDermott has warned Darren Barker he is in the condition of his life ahead of their showdown for the Commonwealth title.

‘The Black Country Bodysnatcher’ takes on the champion at an already sold-out Watford Coliseum two weeks today.

Already the English champion, ‘Macca’ has left no stone unturned in his bid to be at peak physical fitness for the big night.

He deliberately took on a tough six-rounder against Jamie Ambler just 29 days before his shot at the title and has taken a sabbatical from employers Morgan.Est, where he works as a gas engineer.

Training three times a day right up to fight night, the 30-year-old middleweight predicts he will be raring to go come May 23.

He said: “My preparations have been brilliant, they really have. My weight is perfect and I feel razor sharp – I only fought just over two weeks ago.

“It was good of work to let me have the time off so I can prepare properly, they’ve helped me loads. I feel even fitter then when I fought Wayne Elcock for the British title, that’s how hard we’ve been at it.

“I have been training three times a day, that’s what being a professional boxer is all about.”