Geale will use Ashes campaign as motivation for Darren Barker

BOXER Daniel Geale knows Australia has to get one back against England after an Ashes series loss.

England

AUSTRALIA'S Ashes dilemma will be extra motivation for boxer Daniel Geale when he defends his International Boxing Federation middleweight title against England's Darren Barker in the US later this month.

The Harrington Park resident will make his professional US debut in HBO's Boxing After Dark prime time fight at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino, New York on Saturday, ­August 17 (11am, August 18 AEST).

The 32-year-old has followed the Ashes series closely and said ­"England must be stopped".

"The tables have to be turned on England, and hopefully I can get the ball rolling," he said .

Geale admitted "Dazzling" Barker would be as tough as his cricketing counterparts.

"Barker is a terrific fighter and he has height and reach," he said.

"He went toe-to-toe with Sergio (Martinez) in 2011 and Sergio is my No. 1 goal in this middleweight division."

But Geale said he was in better shape than before the bout with Anthony Mundine in January.

"My last five or six fights, I have felt I was in better shape each time," he said.

"This fight is no different and in fact I'm in the best shape of my career."

Geale attributed the ­improved shape to his work with former body builder Tony D'Agosto.

"Things I used to do ­myself I realised weren't good enough. Tony is an expert in relation to nutrition, strength and recovery."

Geale said securing a prime-time bout would help his hopes of fighting Martinez in the future.

"For Americans to put an Aussie and Englishman on prime time is big," he said.

"I only look at one fight at a time, but Martinez's management would be more interested in me after I've fought on prime time."

The fight will be shown on Main Event on Sunday, ­August 18 at 11.30am.