ANTHONY Farnell is relishing a surprise return to the M.E.N. Arena on Saturday night.

The Failsworth middleweight makes the first defence of his World Boxing Union crown on the undercard of Ricky Hatton's clash with Argentine Carlos Vilches after stepping in as a late replacement for the injured Joe Calzaghe yesterday afternoon.

And while the 25-year-old ace admits it's far from ideal preparation for a world title fight, he is determined to put on a show for his army of fans, assuming promoter Frank Warren can find an opponent as expected today.

Calzaghe had been due to fight American-based Jamaican Glen Johnson for the IBF world light-heavyweight title following his move up from super-middleweight, but pulled out on Sunday after suffering a back injury in training.

"I read somewhere that I'd got straight on the phone to Frank Warren after hearing Joe had pulled out, but that wasn't the case," said Farnell, who reclaimed the WBU belt he lost last year with a third-round stoppage of Scotland's Lawrence Murphy in March.

Ready to go

"Sports Network got in touch with me and asked if I would fight. I told them I wasn't 100 per cent fit, but that I had been working out a lot, was in good shape and was happy to fight.

"I know it's not ideal taking on a 12-round world title fight at such short notice, but I would never have accepted the offer if I wasn't feeling right.

"My trainer Oliver Harrison wouldn't have let me take it either if he didn't think I was in good enough shape, but we had a chat and agreed I should fight. I'm ready.

"I was expecting my next fight would be in July or sometime around then, but it'll be good going back to the M.E.N. Arena and fighting in front of 15,000 fans. I've always loved it there and it'll be nice being on the same bill as Ricky again."

Salford's Steve Foster junior has also been pulled off Saturday's bill after being struck down by illness.