The unbeaten 29-year-old takes on Skelton - known as the ’Bedford Headbanger’ - at the Burg-Waechter Castello in Dusseldorf on January 19 in what will be his first defence since winning his title against Nicolai Valuev last April.

Since winning his crown, Chagaev, from Uzbekistan, has struggled with injury, but now insists he is fighting fit, AFP reported.

"I am completely healthy and I am ready to fight, I want to get in the ring," said Chagaev.

"It will be a hard fight against a good puncher."

In August, Chagaev was forced to call off his first defence against Russia’s Sultan Ibragimov with injury.

Skelton, 40 who only took up boxing at the age of 35 after a career in kickboxing but on becoming a boxer was crowned English, British, Commonwealth and the lightly regarded World Boxing Union titleholder, comes into the fight with 22 wins and just one defeat to Danny Williams last year - which he later avenged.