Darren Barker v Darren McDermott is on!!

[scrap iron]

Barker meets McDermott on Saturday 23 May at the Coliseum in Watford. I'm really pleased to see Barker in with an opponent that will be a genuine test for him. McDermott is going to be the best opponent to date Barker has met and there is a slight risk attached to this fight given McDermott is the dark horse of the domestic middleweight division. The fact his British title fight against Elcock was scuppered by a head clash in round two before it even got going, makes McDermott affectively still unbeaten as a professional. He is also coming off a career best win in picking up the English title last time out.

I think as well as this fight being for the Commonwealth title, it was also confirmed that it will serve as a final eliminator for Matthew Macklin and the British title. I think the time Barker's team spent chasing the likes of Kassim Ouma and John Duddy was a bit of a waste as neither opponent presumably wanted it, but McDermott should bring the best out of Barker.

I'm going for Darren Barker; points win or late stoppage.

[Dioufy]

Sorry counter-puncher, I'm going for Barker - 117/111.

[glahn]

Good fight. Barker's pressure and workrate wins it for me. I think he might actually get the stoppage here.

[TerribleTerry]

Good fight. Barker's pressure and workrate wins it for me. I think he might actually get the stoppage here.

The thing is two of McDermotts greatest strengths are his work rate and the pressure he can put on people.. Its a cracking fight and one I am looking forward to greatly. I reckon Barker will edge it but it will a real measure of his ability and progression.

[whiskey]

Cracking fight between two good pro's.

Barker UD

[Counter-puncher]

Sorry counter-puncher, I'm going for Barker - 117/111.

haha no probs mate we've been here before.

I may have mentioned a mate of mine whose opinion i value reckons Macca will beat him down and Barker doesn't like pressure. like double T says, it won't be Barker pressing the action I don't think. bear in mind too Macca will have the range and longer frame so Barker may find himself put on the back foot and having to do his work in little spurts while he figures a way past macca's good jab

at this point i have to admit i'm too biased to make an objective call and merely say, I'm thrilled that Darren has got this fight, happy for british boxing that another good fight has been made, and will see anyone who's going there on the night. I'll be chanting 'black country a la la' i'll be easy to find

[Spud]

Good fight - I completely agree Barkers best opponent to date.

"Rhino" on here raves about Barker - it seems at last he is being test - good news - lets see what he is made of.

[15829]

i reckon barker will win points think mcdermott will cause him trouble for the first 4 round then barker will take over

[Counter-puncher]

i reckon barker will win points think mcdermott will cause him trouble for the first 4 round then barker will take over

in my dreams its the other way round, barker looks good and quick early but startsgetting ground down inthe mid-late rounds. macca is normally quite a quick starter though, he looks to make an impression and set the tone and pace of the fight early

[wendxx]

:)

[Counter-puncher]

dioufy, i'll definitely be going to this, spoke to a mate last night and i should have somewhere to stay lined up for myself and anyone else who's coming along

[bigdaddy]

Great fight

[Bomber 1]

Barker wins this..

[alexpaterson]

I think Barker is a league above McDermott he should win this one

[DG.]

Real fight..

Barker on points, but it wont be easy!

[Dioufy]

dioufy, i'll definitely be going to this, spoke to a mate last night and i should have somewhere to stay lined up for myself and anyone else who's coming along

I won't find out if I'm going until next week. If I do go it'll be going with the obvious Barker lover, but we'll meet up for a drink or something. I definitely won't be staying over though because I have a wedding very early on that Sunday morning.

[jameswilson]

So is this gonna be for the English and Commonwealth titles?

[WildWaylon]

Darren wins this.

[stujones]

Barker should win this, he has a better "flow" about his boxing, seems quicker and more natural. McDermmott for me is a little too bulked up, but he does look a stronger man - so I think if Barker comes through this test it will answer alot of questions about him for the future.

He looks the buisiness to me, so I think a fairly wide UD. 117-111 something like that.

[Andy]

This bout, promoted by Hennessy Sports, is a final eliminator for the British middleweight title. The winner to meet Matthew Macklin.

[jameswilson]

Any idea on who else will be on the bill?

Am I going mad in thinking Witter v McCloskey could be on this one?

[Counter-puncher]

and more natural. McDermmott for me is a little too bulked up, but he does look a stronger man -

:??

he's six foot one inch middleweight always looked more on the skinny side to me, but deceptively strong.

[scrap iron]

Any idea on who else will be on the bill?

Am I going mad in thinking Witter v McCloskey could be on this one?

Maybe Matthew Thirlwall and Steve Ede's Southern Area middleweight title fight considering it got pulled from last Saturday's bill. Bradley Evans is due to be on and I imagine Tyson Fury will probably make an appearance also.

[ArtOfWar]

Any info on tickets? Couldn't see anything on the Hennessy website.

[scrap iron]

Sorry counter-puncher, I'm going for Barker - 117/111.

haha no probs mate we've been here before.

I may have mentioned a mate of mine whose opinion i value reckons Macca will beat him down and Barker doesn't like pressure. like double T says, it won't be Barker pressing the action I don't think. bear in mind too Macca will have the range and longer frame so Barker may find himself put on the back foot and having to do his work in little spurts while he figures a way past macca's good jab

at this point i have to admit i'm too biased to make an objective call and merely say, I'm thrilled that Darren has got this fight, happy for british boxing that another good fight has been made, and will see anyone who's going there on the night. I'll be chanting 'black country a la la' i'll be easy to find