Bareknuckle fighter Darren Hendry is aiming to get back on the winning trail when he returns to action next month.

Hendry suffered the first defeat of his career in his previous fight, when he was beaten by Anthony Holmes of Yorkshire in Newcastle in the Bareknuckle Fighting Championship.

The Bordon fighter had billed that fight as “the biggest of my life” as two unbeaten world champions went head to head for the right to call themselves the number one cruiserweight bareknuckle fighter on the planet.

But after suffering his first defeat, Hendry returns to action on Saturday, March 4, when he will face Corey Harrison at Crystal Palace.

The highly-rated fighter has been putting in the hard yards before the fight, training in Thailand, and is very happy with how his preparations have gone.

“Training has been going very well,” said Hendry.

“I arrived in Thailand in early January – it took me a while to acclimatise, but I’ve now acclimatised to the heat very well.

“I started training at the Phuket Top Team gym. My daily routine involves waking up at about 6am, going for a big four- to five-mile run, and then straight into a two-hour boxing class which involves sparring, padwork and bag work.

“I then go home, rest, have a shower and little bite to eat, and then I train again at 3pm for an hour. That’s more boxing training, or sometimes I mix it up two days a week with some gym work and some strength training.

“Every Tuesday I run up the Big Buddha mountain, which is an eight-kilometre, near-vertical mountain, with a big stature of a Buddha.

“I’ve been sparring with some very good professionals, including WBC Australian champions, former professional boxing champions, cagefighters and MMA fighters.”

Hendry is fully prepared to face Harrison, and is expecting a tough fight against his next opponent.

“Corey Harrison is a big, strong lad,” said Hendry.

“He’s been in the professional bareknuckle game a long time – he’s a tough, durable, very credible opponent.”

Hendry is fully focused on getting back on the winning trail, and potentially setting up a title shot down the line.

“Obviously the last fight didn’t go my way – because I broke my nose broke three weeks before the fight – but I’m looking forward to getting that win under my belt.

“I want to get back on my winning track and get back in title contention – that’s what I’m looking forward to.”