ANTHONY Farnell will have to overcome a big psychological hurdle before he steps into the ring with adopted Mancunian Eugenio Monteiro at the M.E.N. Arena on Saturday night.

The popular Failsworth middleweight makes the first defence of his World Boxing Union crown since reclaiming the title with a third round stoppage of Scotland's Lawrence Murphy in March.

But Monteiro, who usually fights at light-middleweight, will take heart from the fact that earlier this year he beat Takaloo, the man responsible for ending Farnell's perfect record with a devastating first round KO three years ago.

The Portuguese fighter, who trains at Wayne Barker's Droylsden gym, sent shockwaves through the boxing world when he won an eight-round points decision against WBU light-middleweight champion Takaloo in a non-title fight in January - and had no hesitation moving up a weight to take on Farnell.

But Farnell, 25, insists he will not let Monteiro get the better of him mentally - and is determined to bury the ghost of Takaloo once and for all.

"The fact that Monteiro has beaten Takaloo just gives me an extra incentive to win," said Farnell, who fights on the undercard of Ricky Hatton's clash with Argentine Carlos Wilfredo Vilches.

"I'm not taking anything for granted, his confidence will be high and he's obviously a good fighter, but I'm confident I will win."

Farnell was drafted on to the bill after Joe Calzaghe's fight against American-based Jamaican Glen Johnson for the IBF world light-heavyweight title was cancelled on Sunday when the Welshman pulled out with a back injury.

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