Darren Barker says he hopes to end Felix Sturm’s career when the Barnet-born boxer defends his IBF World Title in Stuttgart, Germany, on Saturday.

Barker wants to dominate the middleweight division after he clinched the title by defeating Australian fighter Daniel Geale in August.

Sturm is a former world champion but he was beaten by Geale last year and Barker is determined to prove the German’s time is over.

“Why it’s an important fight is, it’s the old and the new,” he toldskysports.com.

“It is me putting an end to Felix Sturm’s career, as harsh as that sounds, and letting my reign start. I’m looking forward to a long reign as world champion.

“He’s one of the old guard if you like. He was the champion for about six years, a great fighter who I will never be naive enough to take lightly, but I’m extremely confident that it’s my time.

“That’s not me being nasty or anything like that, by saying he will call his career a day.

“He’s been there, he’s fought everyone, he’s been champion for years. I think when I beat him that will be enough. He’s got enough money, he’s achieved lots in the sport. It will be easy for him to hang up his gloves.”