BARKER WILL BE MISSING CHELSEA PALS

CHELSEA aces John Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole have been ordered to stay away from a Saturday night punch-up by boss Carlo Ancelotti.

The England stars wanted to be ringside to cheer on pal Darren Barker in his vacant British middleweight title fight on Saturday night.

But Ancelotti will insist Terry and Lampard and Cole remain holed up at the team hotel ahead of Sunday's cruncher at Arsenal.

The Commonwealth champion faces Wayne Elcock at the Brentwood Centre and midfielder Cole is his No 1 fan.

Blues-mad Barker, 27, said: "I know Joe, Frank and John are well up for being at my fight but I'm not sure if Carlo Ancelotti will be keen on them sneaking out before such a big game.

"Joe invited me to the Cobham training ground and introduced me to all the players. It was blinding.

"The players were keen to talk about training methods.

"The set up at the training ground is incredible. No stone is left unturned. They had a proper laugh as well and there was a great team spirit among all the players."

Cole found comfort in attending every major boxing show in Britain and even made his way to Las Vegas to see Manny Pacquiao knockout Ricky Hatton during his recent nine month lay-off with ligament damage.

Barker, undefeated in 20 fights, added: "I got to know Joe through a guy who sells the Chelsea fanzine. Joe is boxing mad.

"But I get as nervous before a Chelsea match as a fight. I've only missed one home match this season."

He came close to quitting when teenage brother Gary died in a car crash in 2007.

Barker said: "I went back to the gym shortly after it all happened and it was a bit too much. It didn't feel right. There was something missing.

"It wasn't until I got back in the gym for the second time that I thought 'I'm ready for this'.

"Through my success Gary's name can live on. Whenever I get in the ring I know that he is helping me through the fight."

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