Barker Looking “Sharpe” For His North American Debut
On August 15, The Venue at The River Cree Resort and Casino, in Enoch, Alberta, just outside Edmonton, plays host to one of the most intriguing match-ups of the year, as undefeated British middleweight sensation “Dazzling” Darren Barker (17-0, 11 KO’s) makes his North American debut against upset-minded veteran Larry Sharpe (22-4, 10 KO’s), of Pine Falls, Manitoba.
All the action is brought to you by Hennessy Sports Canada, and The River Cree Resort and Casino, and can be seen live, in Canada; on Super Channel (check your local listings for details.
Doors open at 6PM local time, first punch flies at 6:30.
Barker, the reigning Commonwealth Middleweight champion, has wowed UK fans with his blazing hand speed, and fighting acumen, making a seamless leap from prospect to contender with eye-popping performances in the toughest tests of his career, and is eager to make new fans on this side of the Atlantic.
“I’m so excited to be fighting in Canada,” an enthused Barker said before dismissing any notion that he might be fighting Sharpe, a Western Canadian, at a disadvantage.
“I had an extensive amateur career, and was constantly abroad. I’m quite comfortable fighting overseas. It’s really nothing new for me.”
“This is why I box and test myself, so I can travel the world and show people everywhere what I’m capable of.”
Boxing fans in the UK already know, and love, what the Barnet-born Londoner can do in a boxing ring.
In November of 2007, Barker dominated the previously undefeated Ben Crampton (20-0-1, 10 KO’s) to secure the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight crown via lopsided twelve round unanimous decision, and defended the title with a flawless TKO over Steven Bendall (28-3, 13 KO’s), battering the game Coventry southpaw before stopping him on cuts in the seventh round.
In Sharpe, Barker faces a ring-wise southpaw who, while lacking flash, carries more than his share of substance into the ring, and is riding a six fight win streak in the wake of a controversial ten round split decision setback to Bryon Mackie (27-13, 10 KO’s) in November of 2006.
Sharpe’s current run of success includes five wins inside the distance against increasingly difficult competition, culminating with a fourth round TKO over former WBC Lightweight title challenger Mauro Lucero (43-12-1, 29 KO’s) this past May.
Sharpe is perhaps best known in the UK for a brave performance against Plymouth Middleweight, Scott Dann, in February of 2006, in which Sharpe held firm until being stopped by a crunching uppercut in the ninth round.
“I’ve only ever seen Sharpe in his fight with Scott Dann, and he was holding his own for a while there until he got caught,” Barker said of his foe on August 15th.
“Clearly, he’s a guy who’s very experienced, and knows what he’s doing in the ring.
“It should be an excellent fight.”
"This event is sanctioned by the River Cree Combative Sports Commission"
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Barker Looking “Sharpe” For His North American Debut
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Wellington
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Wellington
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Re: Barker Looking “Sharpe” For His North American Debut
Vernaus: "Larry is going to beat him!"
King John predicts Sharpe victory!
written by Bill Tibbs, FightNews Canada
2008-07-25
About the only thing that is predictable in boxing is its unpredictability. After Winnipeg's King John Vernaus decided to keep his champion Larry Sharpe out of action till the fall when the phone rings and in one quick conversation all plans are changed. Larry 'Razor' Sharpe, 22-4 (10 ko's), will step into the ring on August 15 to battle Britain's Commonwealth Champion Darren Barker of London, England. Barker, 17-0 (11 ko's), will be making his first trip across the pond (to Enoch, Alberta) for the fight. Sharpe, fighting out of Pine Falls, Manitoba, is currently training in Las Vegas and is eagerly anticipating this upcoming and very important match. Fightnews had a chat with Sharpe's promoter/manager John Vernaus to get his thoughts on the upcoming match.
So, how did this bout come off John?
I got a call from Hennessy Sports in England inquiring about Larry and asking if he would be interested in fighting their guy Barker. Larry of course said 'yes' right away and after I took a look at it we decided it was a go.
Is this for the Commonwealth title?
Originally they said it was but then it changed. They called back and said it wasn't. I've been informed it was something to do with getting sanctioning for it in Edmonton. I'm not exactly sure. We'd like 12 rounds and obviously we'd like it to be for the title but we'll have to see. If it's 10 rounds so be it.
What do you know about Barker?
I've seen some tape on him. He is a good fighter. He is 17-0 and has been in with some experienced guys. He's fought some good fighters and hasn't lost yet. He's gonna lose in August though.
You had a little edge in that usually friendly voice of yours.
(laughs). Well, I'm very confident in Larry right now. We are looking to step up and move forward all the time. He is in such good shape and is so ready to go all the time I feel very good about putting him in with anyone. He's stopped 5 of his last 6 opponents and the one he didn't was falling through the ropes and he was saved by the bell. He was completely out. Larry is hitting harder, he's bringing more to the table every time he gets in the ring. He is eager to test himself against better fighters all the time.
Larry is training in Las Vegas right now?
He was to be out there for the whole month of August as well but will be back earlier than anticipated for the August fight. He gets lots of good work out there, real good sparring.
You were planning a card in Winnipeg for September, is that still going to go?
I may move it back 2 weeks into early October to give Larry a few extra days to heal up after this fight. He's scheduled to be fighting on that card as well. All we're focusing on is August 15 right now.
I'm assuming Barker's team sees Larry as a win as they wouldn't travel all this way with an undefeated prospect to Larry's region to risk a loss.
They can see or think whatever they want. Listen, we're going for it. We've discussed everything and it's time to go here. Larry is in the best shape of his life, is getting better every fight, and wants to move into bigger fights. So what if he loses, but he won't. You gotta go into tough fights to know where you are at. It makes you a better fighter. It's easy to be undefeated or sport some amazing record, just avoid tough fights, avoid tests. Who is this guy? He has 2 arms and 2 legs. Larry is very confident and he's going to Edmonton to beat this guy not just show up and fight him.
Having seen tape of Barker has he been built up on some soft touches.
I don't think so. He looks to be a very good fighter and has been in with some good, experienced fighters and still remained unbeaten so we are anticipating a very good fighter and a tough fight. That being said, he's gonna get a surprise in Edmonton, Larry is going to beat him.
Do I need to ask for a prediction?
It'll be a great fight with Larry winning.
Best of luck
Thanks
King John predicts Sharpe victory!
written by Bill Tibbs, FightNews Canada
2008-07-25
About the only thing that is predictable in boxing is its unpredictability. After Winnipeg's King John Vernaus decided to keep his champion Larry Sharpe out of action till the fall when the phone rings and in one quick conversation all plans are changed. Larry 'Razor' Sharpe, 22-4 (10 ko's), will step into the ring on August 15 to battle Britain's Commonwealth Champion Darren Barker of London, England. Barker, 17-0 (11 ko's), will be making his first trip across the pond (to Enoch, Alberta) for the fight. Sharpe, fighting out of Pine Falls, Manitoba, is currently training in Las Vegas and is eagerly anticipating this upcoming and very important match. Fightnews had a chat with Sharpe's promoter/manager John Vernaus to get his thoughts on the upcoming match.
So, how did this bout come off John?
I got a call from Hennessy Sports in England inquiring about Larry and asking if he would be interested in fighting their guy Barker. Larry of course said 'yes' right away and after I took a look at it we decided it was a go.
Is this for the Commonwealth title?
Originally they said it was but then it changed. They called back and said it wasn't. I've been informed it was something to do with getting sanctioning for it in Edmonton. I'm not exactly sure. We'd like 12 rounds and obviously we'd like it to be for the title but we'll have to see. If it's 10 rounds so be it.
What do you know about Barker?
I've seen some tape on him. He is a good fighter. He is 17-0 and has been in with some experienced guys. He's fought some good fighters and hasn't lost yet. He's gonna lose in August though.
You had a little edge in that usually friendly voice of yours.
(laughs). Well, I'm very confident in Larry right now. We are looking to step up and move forward all the time. He is in such good shape and is so ready to go all the time I feel very good about putting him in with anyone. He's stopped 5 of his last 6 opponents and the one he didn't was falling through the ropes and he was saved by the bell. He was completely out. Larry is hitting harder, he's bringing more to the table every time he gets in the ring. He is eager to test himself against better fighters all the time.
Larry is training in Las Vegas right now?
He was to be out there for the whole month of August as well but will be back earlier than anticipated for the August fight. He gets lots of good work out there, real good sparring.
You were planning a card in Winnipeg for September, is that still going to go?
I may move it back 2 weeks into early October to give Larry a few extra days to heal up after this fight. He's scheduled to be fighting on that card as well. All we're focusing on is August 15 right now.
I'm assuming Barker's team sees Larry as a win as they wouldn't travel all this way with an undefeated prospect to Larry's region to risk a loss.
They can see or think whatever they want. Listen, we're going for it. We've discussed everything and it's time to go here. Larry is in the best shape of his life, is getting better every fight, and wants to move into bigger fights. So what if he loses, but he won't. You gotta go into tough fights to know where you are at. It makes you a better fighter. It's easy to be undefeated or sport some amazing record, just avoid tough fights, avoid tests. Who is this guy? He has 2 arms and 2 legs. Larry is very confident and he's going to Edmonton to beat this guy not just show up and fight him.
Having seen tape of Barker has he been built up on some soft touches.
I don't think so. He looks to be a very good fighter and has been in with some good, experienced fighters and still remained unbeaten so we are anticipating a very good fighter and a tough fight. That being said, he's gonna get a surprise in Edmonton, Larry is going to beat him.
Do I need to ask for a prediction?
It'll be a great fight with Larry winning.
Best of luck
Thanks
Re: Barker Looking “Sharpe” For His North American Debut
Reigning Commonwealth mddleweight champion Darren Barker makes his overseas debut in Alberta, Canada in a 10-rounder against Canadian Larry "Razor" Sharpe on August 15.
Barker's title, obviously (the championship distance is over 12 rounds), is not at stake.
This serves as a showcase and a lesson in experience for unbeaten Barker, who makes the journey because his stablemate in the Mick Hennessy camp, Kettering-based Andrew Kooner, a naturalized Canadian and a former Canadian amateur star, appears as the local attraction on the bill. Londoner Barker, 17-0 (11), turned pro after winning gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester but was brought along slowly and also needed a period away from the sport as he came to terms with the loss of a younger brother in an M1 car smash. Now 26, the Barnet boy made his move last year when he picked up the Commonwealth title vacated by then stablemate Howard Eastman with a one-sided decision over Aussie Ben Crampton. Quick, rangy, long-armed, good behind the jab and aggressively inclined, Barker stepped up effortlessly and trounced Coventry veteran Steve Bendall in seven rounds in his first defence in February, also winning pretty much as he pleased.
That was his last outing. Bendall, conveniently, is a southpaw.
To southpaw Sharpe, a 34-year-old physical education teacher who brings a solid 22-4 (10) resume to the fight and a run of six straight wins since fellow Canadian Byron Mackie edged him out on a split decision after 10 rounds in Ontario in November 2006. Interestingly, one of those six wins is a revenge 10-round stoppage of Mackie, so Sharpe is clearly an ambitious 34-year-old.
We know all about him, of course. He came over to Plymouth in February 2006 to challenge then Commonwealth middleweight champ Scott Dann and was worn down and halted in nine rounds. He showed caginess, guts and movement but not much ambition and power, even if he did seem to shake Dann momentarily in an exciting sixth round, a round largely dominated by the local southpaw puncher. And three rounds later, Dann finally caught up with the lanky Sharpe as he floored him with a sharp left uppercut. Sharpe bravely beat the count but was pulled out by referee Richie Davies, his right eye shutting. The punch seemed to land bang on the eye. Painful.
Such a result is an indicator of how this one pans out. Sharpe has already tried and failed against a Commonwealth middleweight king from Britain. The home man, cagey and a former kickboxer, knows how to move and box and will drag Barker into the middle or later rounds, and probably the full 10, the crowd right behind him and given he went nine with Dann over here. Barker, however, looks too busy, strong and determined. He punches out the win.
Barker's title, obviously (the championship distance is over 12 rounds), is not at stake.
This serves as a showcase and a lesson in experience for unbeaten Barker, who makes the journey because his stablemate in the Mick Hennessy camp, Kettering-based Andrew Kooner, a naturalized Canadian and a former Canadian amateur star, appears as the local attraction on the bill. Londoner Barker, 17-0 (11), turned pro after winning gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester but was brought along slowly and also needed a period away from the sport as he came to terms with the loss of a younger brother in an M1 car smash. Now 26, the Barnet boy made his move last year when he picked up the Commonwealth title vacated by then stablemate Howard Eastman with a one-sided decision over Aussie Ben Crampton. Quick, rangy, long-armed, good behind the jab and aggressively inclined, Barker stepped up effortlessly and trounced Coventry veteran Steve Bendall in seven rounds in his first defence in February, also winning pretty much as he pleased.
That was his last outing. Bendall, conveniently, is a southpaw.
To southpaw Sharpe, a 34-year-old physical education teacher who brings a solid 22-4 (10) resume to the fight and a run of six straight wins since fellow Canadian Byron Mackie edged him out on a split decision after 10 rounds in Ontario in November 2006. Interestingly, one of those six wins is a revenge 10-round stoppage of Mackie, so Sharpe is clearly an ambitious 34-year-old.
We know all about him, of course. He came over to Plymouth in February 2006 to challenge then Commonwealth middleweight champ Scott Dann and was worn down and halted in nine rounds. He showed caginess, guts and movement but not much ambition and power, even if he did seem to shake Dann momentarily in an exciting sixth round, a round largely dominated by the local southpaw puncher. And three rounds later, Dann finally caught up with the lanky Sharpe as he floored him with a sharp left uppercut. Sharpe bravely beat the count but was pulled out by referee Richie Davies, his right eye shutting. The punch seemed to land bang on the eye. Painful.
Such a result is an indicator of how this one pans out. Sharpe has already tried and failed against a Commonwealth middleweight king from Britain. The home man, cagey and a former kickboxer, knows how to move and box and will drag Barker into the middle or later rounds, and probably the full 10, the crowd right behind him and given he went nine with Dann over here. Barker, however, looks too busy, strong and determined. He punches out the win.