MATTHEW BARNEY could be set for a return in front of his home Southampton fans for a summer boxing showdown.

The light-heavyweight former world champion is currently in talks with veteran promoter Jack Bishop with a view to fighting on a scheduled show at Southampton Guildhall on June 27.

Barney, pictured above, has not boxed in Southampton for three years and has boxed for British, Commonwealth, European and world titles since.

His last fight was a hugely controversial points defeat against German Thomas Ulrich for the European crown when he appeared to have jabbed his way to victory.

"There are negotiations about getting Matthew to fight at Guildhall, but nothing is finalised," said Bishop.

Two of Bishop's young up and coming boxers will be disappointed that tonight's show at the Mounbatten Centre in Portsmouth has been cancelled

Middleweights Steve Ede and Dimi Donetskiy were due to continue their impressive professional starts against tough opposition.

Gosport's Ede, who scored a knockout on his debut, was fighting Mark Wall (Dudley) while Russian-born and Southampton-based Donetskiy was set to take on unbeaten Jake Guntert of Oxford.

Managed by Frank Maloney, Guntert is regarded as one of the more exciting prospects in British boxing.

But Donetskiy is an extremely tough young fighter and has instructed Bishop to get him the hardest fights that he can.

"Dimi is not interested in easy fights, he likes fighting the best and he loves a tear-up," said Bishop.

Sukh Nagra, meanwhile, of the Lawrence Club in Lymington, has enjoyed his continued success in the amateur ranks.

He won the Southern Counties title earlier in the season and has picked up wins at shows in Herne Bay and Chatham.