Have you lost respect for Barker?

[markpacy]

Simple question?

He seems to be taking a lot of stick on the boards for pulling out. Do people think the injury is legit?

[El Raincoat]

I think it's a legit injury and he just hasn't been able to get over it for the moment 100%.

Though what i think is frustrating is that that would of been the case when the bill was originally announced. So tickets have been sold and many people would be going hoping to see this fight only for it to be off.

I hope a) they have a good replacement and Macklin can still fight b) Barker-Macklin get it on later this year or in the first couple of months in 2011.

[palooka]

Course he's injured; in an ideal world he could've let the world know but on such a massive bill with so much at stake he would've left it to the last minute. The interview/question & answer piece in Boxing News is really unfortunate. Barker is a good boxer; Macklin is a powerful box fighter. It would've been fight of the night, no doubt. I was looking forward to it and Macklin must be gutted (+ it must cost a fortune for training, flights, room and board etc). I don't think the fight will come off now; hope Macklin gets a meaningful bout and moves on up and that Barker recovers and gets into contention again.

[m1kee50]

The interview/question & answer piece in Boxing News is really unfortunate.

I was just thinking that.

[gasman]

No I havent lost respect for Barker - he is injured - it happens. This is such a shame as it would have been a barnstormer with Macklin - hope it happens one day.

[chris s]

He is injured, end of. Cannot be helped. He isn't gonna cry off two weeks before the biggest payday and fight of his life without good reason.

[charlieb]

This is a blessing in disguise for barker imo.

I've had a bad feeling about this one for weeks now.

I've no idea whether it's legit or not but the more I watch of Macklin, the more improvement I see, the more doubt I have that Barker will overcome.

I think Macklin's on a high right now, a good run, good training, he has a lot of momentum behind him with little expectation. Whether or not this is a manufactured exit or not by Barker, I don't think it's a bad thing for his career.

[Spud]

Darren Barker is a top guy you can tell that a mile off - pull outs happen in boxing all the time - the "cause" is always an injury - sometimes the injury is because of a better offer elsewhere etc etc etc.

I this case I would like to think everything is genuine. If it is Macklin/Barker will still go ahead at a later date!!

[stevek3lly]

I am so gutted about him pulling out. I am going on 18th and this is the fight I was really excited about. Hope it happens some time, maybe even for a world title at some point.

[Jeff Thomas]

I have lost respect for Darren Barker. Not so much because he pulled out, but more because he got injured in the first place. I only respect people who are impervious to injury or pain- like internet warriors. They never get injured no matter how many posts they make. Real men.

[dondada]

It seems quite clear what's happened. He's had a long standing injury which should have been treated via surgery and for one reason or another they've decided not to go down that route. He hoped all would be well and it hasn't been - in fact, it's got worse.

As for the BN piece, I haven't read it but if he's saying he's chomping at the bit and ready, I'm sure that's exactly what he was telling himself, never mind others.

I haven't lost respect for the lad at all - but he needs to get that sorted...imagine it happening again?

[Jeff Thomas]

It seems quite clear what's happened. He's had a long standing injury which should have been treated via surgery and for one reason or another they've decided not to go down that route. He hoped all would be well and it hasn't been - in fact, it's got worse.

As for the BN piece, I haven't read it but if he's saying he's chomping at the bit and ready, I'm sure that's exactly what he was telling himself, never mind others.

I haven't lost respect for the lad at all - but he needs to get that sorted...imagine it happening again?

Further to this of course he's going to say preperations are fab and all that.... Imagine the pycholgical edge Macklin would have going in knowing Darrens injured or his preperation has been poor.

[leforge]

Barker is overrated macklin would have beaten him. Does barker know what his fans are like I wonder?

[potnoodle]

give over with the fans!!! thats all you talk about!!! it has nothing to do with Barker

[HomeOfBritishBoxing]

Simple question?

He seems to be taking a lot of stick on the boards for pulling out. Do people think the injury is legit?

no, legit injury

[m1kee50]

I have lost respect for Darren Barker. Not so much because he pulled out, but more because he got injured in the first place. I only respect people who are impervious to injury or pain- like internet warriors. They never get injured no matter how many posts they make. Real men.

that must rule me out then as my hands are killing me - from the heavy bag not the typing lol.

[JimJim2009]

I have lost respect for Darren Barker. Not so much because he pulled out, but more because he got injured in the first place. I only respect people who are impervious to injury or pain- like internet warriors. They never get injured no matter how many posts they make. Real men.

That is well funny, I read this thread hoping for some kind of rebuttal against such a nonsense topic, I can't top that one

[Autobarn]

no reason to lose respect for barker. but barker has lost a big opportunity due to injury. what is there for him now? can't see him getting macklin rescheduled and i can't see him getting lee - unless peters wants to keep macklin and lee apart. and to get lee i'd have thought he'd need the EBU title to defend. the title he's just vacated...

what's the masterplan for a post op barker?

[tonyevs]

Its unfortunate for Barker - this could well have been his big coming out party.
Macklin will prob move on to bigger and better things now. Where does Barker realistically look to go next? He isn`t with the best promoter and he is just to nice and kinda boring to gather any interest... I`m sorry for Barker. But injuries happen :(

[HomeOfBritishBoxing]

Its unfortunate for Barker - this could well have been his big coming out party.
Macklin will prob move on to bigger and better things now. Where does Barker realistically look to go next? He isn`t with the best promoter and he is just to nice and kinda boring to gather any interest... I`m sorry for Barker. But injuries happen :(

look for a world ranked opponent now that hennessy has teamed up with shobox he could fight on there and look for a world title elim.

[leforge]

Its unfortunate for Barker - this could well have been his big coming out party.
Macklin will prob move on to bigger and better things now. Where does Barker realistically look to go next? He isn`t with the best promoter and he is just to nice and kinda boring to gather any interest... I`m sorry for Barker. But injuries happen :(

look for a world ranked opponent now that hennessy has teamed up with shobox he could fight on there and look for a world title elim.

Hennessy not teamed up with sho box he had one fight deal every promotor in super six got this!

[alexpaterson]

I think its a legitamite injury, I think this a fight that will happen. Its a shame hes pulled out but I would be amazed if it never happened later

[Autobarn]

apparently barker said he'd vacate the title if he could have the macklin fight at a later date, and that macklin wasn't sure about this. i read this somewhere. suddenly, the title is vacant - so perhaps we can read good news into this?

[Finn]

Barker is a sportman and great ambassador for the sport if he's giving up his title he plans on trying to get it back. Fair play to him, lots of guys hold their belts hostage at the cost of the fans.

[WelshDevil]

I'm not surprised at the pullout, I am surprised they tried to make this fight. The man is coming back from surgery, so shouldn't have been lined up in this sort of fight. Take a tester fight first. I have no idea what his handlers/promoters were thinking of.