MATTHEW BARNEY is hoping it will be a case of fifth time lucky on Saturday when he finally gets the chance to land a European title.

Southampton's most successful boxer faces the toughest challenge of his career when he steps into the Erdgas Arena in the small town of Riesa in Germany to take on reigning champion Thomas Ulrich.

Fighting in front of a partisan opposition crowd is nothing new to Barney after he took the WBU world light heavyweight crown in front of Tony Oakey's home fans in Portsmouth.

He took that fight at just 48 hours' notice and the build-up to this title challenge has hardly been straightforward. The fight was originally set for October, November, December and then January with Ulrich pulling out on each occasion, always blaming illness.

It has left Barney out of pocket as he has trained almost full-time for the past six months and been unable to work.

The 30-year-old has vowed to make his opponent pay.

"I'm sure it will happen this time. I saw him at a press conference on Monday and he looks more on the weight, as if he is ready," said Barney.

"The training has gone really well and I'm just looking forward to winning this fight.

"It has really annoyed me all the messing around. I think it was pretty disgraceful, to be honest, but it has just made me more determined to win.

"The last six months have been a nightmare, they have really dragged on. I have not been able to work and I have had all the training expenses so I'm not going to earn any money out of it."

Ulrich, 29, is a big name in German sport and the fight will be beamed live on national television.

The arena is expected to be packed out with several thousand fans and the clash has attracted major media coverage in Germany.

"I've been given the whole top-floor suite of the hotel I'm staying," said Barney.

"It's a massive event over here. National TV is covering it and all the national newspapers have been full of it. There's a lot more interest than any of my fights back home."

Ulrich is easily Barney's toughest opponent and is rated number two by the WBC.

The German is expected to have a crack at that title if he disposes of Barney, and American WBA king Fabrice Tiozzo is planning to be ringside to watch Saturday's fight.

Ulrich has been beaten just once in 28 fights - and that was way back in 2001 against American world champion Glencoffe Johnson, who is generally regarded as the best in the light-heavyweight division.

"He is the next level up from the people I have previously boxed," admitted Barney.

"He is genuinely world class and I'm just looking forward to it. I know that I can beat him if I can box to my ability. He is high on all the ratings, so a win would put me in contention for a genuine world title.

"I really think that he doesn't want this fight after the way he has been messing me around."

It is certainly a massive opportunity for Barney to gain the respect and acclaim he craves.

But a career record of just six knockouts in 26 fights strongly suggests he lacks the firepower to stop someone of Ulrich's obvious quality.

And convincing the judges in the German champion's backyard looks a sizeable task.