Box-to-box player: Chelsea fan Barker parades belt at Stamford Bridge after stunning world title victory

Just champion: Darren Barker parades his belt around Stamford Bridge after his world title victory

Darren Barker received a hero's welcome at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night as the newly-crowned world champion took to the pitch at half-time of Chelsea's Premier League win over Aston Villa.

The 31-year-old Chelsea fan ripped the IBF middleweight title from Australian Daniel Geale in Atlantic City on Saturday night.

Barker was knocked down in the sixth round but recovered to record a split-decision victory in his second world title fight.

The Barnet brawler has come through his fair share of pain inside and outside the ring, not least in 2006 when his brother Gary, a promising boxer himself, died in a car accident aged just 19.

His sibling was at the forefront of his mind throughout the bout and that inspired him to rise from the canvas midway through the fight when a crunching left to the body from Geale looked to have ended things.
'I was in absolute bits. I was gone. But as the seconds went on my brother and daughter, they got into my head,' Barker said afterwards.

Thumbs up: Barker did a lap of the pitch as he returned to London following victory in Atlantic City on Saturday

'I showed I've got heart and a lot of people didn't think I did.
'Not many people know the journey I've been through. It's been a real Rocky story.

'I dedicate this to my late brother. Everything I've done is for him. Gary, this is for you, mate.'

Barker's previous world title shot against Sergio Martinez ended in failure in Atlantic City two years ago and his hopes of landing another tilt had been disrupted through a variety of injuries.

Down but not out: Barker was floored in the sixth round but recovered to record a split-decision victory

Meanwhile, Barker's fellow Brit Martin Murray believes the pair can ignite a thrilling new domestic rivalry in the division.

'We're both world-class fighters. He's a world champion and I should have become one, arguably against [Felix] Sturm and definitely against [Sergio] Martinez, so we've got the chance to get a good middleweight era going again,' he said.

'Me and Barker have both said we want to get involved in big British world title fights and him beating Geale makes that possible.

Prized possession: Barker celebrates with his IBF middleweight belt after his victory over Daniel Geale

'We've got a chance here for us to put on one the biggest fights out there. It'd be a massive event and my Twitter has gone crazy with people asking about it since his win.

'It's up to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Sport whether it can happen, but I can't see any reason why it shouldn't.'

Barker must first face mandatory challenger Felix Sturm while Geale also has the option of a rematch.