Darren Barker to make his debut on ITV4 13 December!!

[Autobarn]

If Murray had gone with Steve Wood to Maloney, wouldn't he have been split up from his trainer Joe Gallagher? Strikes me as a bit odd, every time a fighter packs his trainer in - Khan with Harrison for instance - that hell gets raised on these boards, due to ungrateful fighter, it's not fair, etc. Doesn't the same apply here, if we look at it from this perspective?

I just hope Murray can continue to look excellent at British level & move on up. I don't know what happened re the recent rumours of an incident. I always got the impression from speaking to John that he gets pissed off not being kept active, that he's anxious to get on with things and move on to a Thaxton fight ASAP. As we all know, the fight is not necessarily in Thaxton's best interests, despite them being with the same promoter, so you have what I see as a frustrated fighter - the big prize (Thaxton, Euro title) so near yet never quite in grasp.

[Spud]

If Murray had gone with Steve Wood to Maloney, wouldn't he have been split up from his trainer Joe Gallagher? Strikes me as a bit odd, every time a fighter packs his trainer in - Khan with Harrison for instance - that hell gets raised on these boards, due to ungrateful fighter, it's not fair, etc. Doesn't the same apply here, if we look at it from this perspective?

I just hope Murray can continue to look excellent at British level & move on up. I don't know what happened re the recent rumours of an incident. I always got the impression from speaking to John that he gets pissed off not being kept active, that he's anxious to get on with things and move on to a Thaxton fight ASAP. As we all know, the fight is not necessarily in Thaxton's best interests, despite them being with the same promoter, so you have what I see as a frustrated fighter - the big prize (Thaxton, Euro title) so near yet never quite in grasp.

Look at Murray's record when he was with Steve Wood - Woodsy kept Murray active alright - then look at Murrays record after that - some will use injuries as an excuse - UMmmmmmmmm

[scrap iron]

Let's hope Elcock beats Macklin to set up this amazing fight, hopefully.

Macklin is certainly up for it.

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_4041- ... -out-.html

Should be a good fight, may make the trip to Brum to sample the atmosphere.

It would be great to see some big fights happening in Birmingham next year.

[Autobarn]

I hate to say it but I'm a bit disappointed with Barker's progress, in terms of competition. It was a great move to get the Commonwealth title, but subsequent opponents Bendall, Sharpe and now Andy Lee victim aren't really going to prepare him for the big time. Certainly these fights haven't raised my pulse, either.

Each time I've sort of been expecting some kind of pretty good Aussie or Canadian opponent. Barker's a very good talent, he's done well to come back at a crucial time off in his development (due to family tragedy). I know he's filling in for Elcock, and I know he's a really good fighter, I just hope something more interesting happens next year.


Spud - so you reckon what John Murray is missing is a good manager (to go with trainer Gallagher and promoter Hennessy)?

[Counter-puncher]

Let's hope Elcock beats Macklin to set up this amazing fight, hopefully.

Macklin is certainly up for it.

http://www.britishboxing.net/news_4041- ... -out-.html

Should be a good fight, may make the trip to Brum to sample the atmosphere.

It would be great to see some big fights happening in Birmingham next year.

it would but i won't hold my breath expect Broadhurst vs TBA macklin vs European pro and so on....

[leforge]

I think Macklin will stop Elcock,

[scrap iron]

I hate to say it but I'm a bit disappointed with Barker's progress, in terms of competition. It was a great move to get the Commonwealth title, but subsequent opponents Bendall, Sharpe and now Andy Lee victim aren't really going to prepare him for the big time. Certainly these fights haven't raised my pulse, either.

Each time I've sort of been expecting some kind of pretty good Aussie or Canadian opponent. Barker's a very good talent, he's done well to come back at a crucial time off in his development (due to family tragedy). I know he's filling in for Elcock, and I know he's a really good fighter, I just hope something more interesting happens next year.


Spud - so you reckon what John Murray is missing is a good manager (to go with trainer Gallagher and promoter Hennessy)?

At first I was fairly happy with Jason Mackay as the choice of opponent because I appreciated Barker was coming in at late notice to replace the Wayne Elcock fight. But the fact that the fight has been moved to the Brentwood Leisure Centre on another night and become a show in it's own right, I do think now perhaps a better opponent could have been found. I still think Mackay will give Darren a few rounds, but after watching last weekend's Prizefighter show and seeing Martin Murray take a risk with his unbeaten record, it would be good to see Darren to the same. Elcock, Macklin, Smith, McDermott and now Murray are all fighters who Darren can beat, but would present a serious challenge. I really hope for Darren's sake these fights can be made in 2009 and we don't see same thing that happened to all the British light-middleweights rivals a few years earlier (Roberts, Alexander, Farnell, Williams etc). That was a waste.

:( :(