Matchroom working on Martinez-Barker for October

[johnswan1]

Eddie Hearn says so on Twitter. Very surprising as I don't think Barker would stand a chance if it's made. Stepping up from European level to top three P4P in the world is a big, big ask.

[LeedsLad]

Great news if this can be made.

Realistically it's going to be very hard for him but it's a brilliant opportunity. If he loses he'll learn far more than staying at European level waiting for a weak champion.

[Counter-puncher]

[stujones]

I'd love to see this in the UK, I would love Barker to pull it off but I would go to this one primarily to see Martinez in action.

[crusader]

Great opportunity for Barker, but it will probably be a painful night for him if this comes off.

[Glyn Leach]

Suicidal match IMO, DB can't beat him. Top marks for ambition but there are beatable champions out there

[veriton]

ask esham pickering what going in with someone called martinez before you are ready can do for you

[LeedsLad]

Suicidal match IMO, DB can't beat him. Top marks for ambition but there are beatable champions out there

Surely we want our fighters taking on the best that the world has to offer though?

We've had enough ''allegedly'' champions, picking up a vacant title and defending it against the weakest acceptable opposition.

Plus, none of them are the linear champion either. Marvin Hagler, Bernard Hopkins...... Darren Barker

[earsjohn]

ask esham pickering what going in with someone called martinez before you are ready can do for you

Or ask Ricky Burns what going in with someone called Martinez who is a huge favourite when you have supposedly no chance can do for you.

I really don't get this criticism. Barker has been at Euro level for a while, and had he not had to take so much time out he could well be "ready" for a world level fight. If Macklin can fight Sturm and not get criticised then why shouldn't Barker go after the biggest man in the division. It wasn't long ago that going after "the man" at a weight class was considered the only way to get credit, now it seems that more kudos is placed on going after a weaker champion in order to get a belt rather than trying to prove oneself alongside the elite.

[Final round]

Crazy decision! Credit to him for bravery (delusion)but going from fighting EU level to the clear Middleweight champ and p4p'r just doesn't make sense. Daz has had a long lay off and tbh there is nothing in his game that would deter Martinez.
I like Darren he's a good boxer but where is the power to keep Martinez at bay we saw against Dzinziruk how a well schooled but not overly strong boxer does against him.

He'd be better off targetting one of Martinez' victims before meeting the king in his prime.

Or why not the bloke who took Macklin twelve rounds in his last fight? He was a tough guy .

[johnswan1]

ask esham pickering what going in with someone called martinez before you are ready can do for you

Or ask Ricky Burns what going in with someone called Martinez who is a huge favourite when you have supposedly no chance can do for you.

I really don't get this criticism. Barker has been at Euro level for a while, and had he not had to take so much time out he could well be "ready" for a world level fight. If Macklin can fight Sturm and not get criticised then why shouldn't Barker go after the biggest man in the division. It wasn't long ago that going after "the man" at a weight class was considered the only way to get credit, now it seems that more kudos is placed on going after a weaker champion in order to get a belt rather than trying to prove oneself alongside the elite.

The only belt Martinez has is the Ring Magazine belt. He's also ranked no.2 P4P in the world by The Ring. Other beltholders he could go after are:

Felix Sturm - WBA Super
Gennady Golovkin - WBA Regular
Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. - WBC
Daniel Geale - IBF
Dmitry Pirog - WBO

Would it really be so difficult getting a fight against one of these guys? We all want Barker to do well, but Martinez is not only the best in the division, but one of the best in boxing. Barker needs to take on a couple of top ten contenders (see below) before he should be going after somebody like Martinez. Of course he could give a good showing and it may raise his profile and lead to better things, but his chances of winning would be extremely slim. Outside of Martinez I wouldn't rule him out against any of the others.

Top 10 Middleweights

1 Sergio Gabriel Martinez
2 Felix Sturm
3 Daniel Geale
4 Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam
5 Dmitry Pirog
6 Andy Lee
7 Marco Antonio Rubio
8 Sebastian Sylvester
9 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr
10 Matthew Macklin

[veriton]

ask esham pickering what going in with someone called martinez before you are ready can do for you

Or ask Ricky Burns what going in with someone called Martinez who is a huge favourite when you have supposedly no chance can do for you.

I really don't get this criticism. Barker has been at Euro level for a while, and had he not had to take so much time out he could well be "ready" for a world level fight. If Macklin can fight Sturm and not get criticised then why shouldn't Barker go after the biggest man in the division. It wasn't long ago that going after "the man" at a weight class was considered the only way to get credit, now it seems that more kudos is placed on going after a weaker champion in order to get a belt rather than trying to prove oneself alongside the elite.

darren barker hasn't really looked world class though, has he? he's a good, solid euro operator. "if he hadn't taken so much time out", if my auntie had a pair of bollocks etc etc

sergio martinez is the real thing and at his peak. barker has done nothing to prove he can hang with martinez, much the same as pickering against mauricio. barker should try and beat someone in the top 10 before he gets a shot at the number one, or maybe i am being old-fashioned.

ricky burns v roman martinez - two fringe title contenders going at each other, no more no less.

[JC]

I'd love to see this in the UK, I would love Barker to pull it off but I would go to this one primarily to see Martinez in action.

Hearn's message mentions that it would be in the US so you'd have to get you passport out to see Maravilla I'm afraid.

Top marks to Barker/Hearn for showing major Cojones . I wonder if they are thinking Barker's injuries are going to shorten his career so they need to grasp the nettle now?

[earsjohn]

ask esham pickering what going in with someone called martinez before you are ready can do for you

Or ask Ricky Burns what going in with someone called Martinez who is a huge favourite when you have supposedly no chance can do for you.

I really don't get this criticism. Barker has been at Euro level for a while, and had he not had to take so much time out he could well be "ready" for a world level fight. If Macklin can fight Sturm and not get criticised then why shouldn't Barker go after the biggest man in the division. It wasn't long ago that going after "the man" at a weight class was considered the only way to get credit, now it seems that more kudos is placed on going after a weaker champion in order to get a belt rather than trying to prove oneself alongside the elite.

The only belt Martinez has is the Ring Magazine belt. He's also ranked no.2 P4P in the world by The Ring. Other beltholders he could go after are:

Felix Sturm - WBA Super
Gennady Golovkin - WBA Regular
Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. - WBC
Daniel Geale - IBF
Dmitry Pirog - WBO

Would it really be so difficult getting a fight against one of these guys? We all want Barker to do well, but Martinez is not only the best in the division, but one of the best in boxing. Barker needs to take on a couple of top ten contenders (see below) before he should be going after somebody like Martinez. Of course he could give a good showing and it may raise his profile and lead to better things, but his chances of winning would be extremely slim. Outside of Martinez I wouldn't rule him out against any of the others.

Top 10 Middleweights

1 Sergio Gabriel Martinez
2 Felix Sturm
3 Daniel Geale
4 Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam
5 Dmitry Pirog
6 Andy Lee
7 Marco Antonio Rubio
8 Sebastian Sylvester
9 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr
10 Matthew Macklin

But what is wrong with him going straight for the Number 1 guy? Is losing to the number 1 guy (given how little hope he has of winning apparently) significantly worse than beating, say, Sylvester and Lee and then losing to Martinez? I just don't get the logic. If he's fit, hungry and wants the fight then bloody well go for it. Your argument that he should go for another belt holder helps support the ABC's who insist on divvying up their titles to the extent there are now at least 7 guys calling themselves Middleweight Champion of the World (you missed Hassan N'Jikams WBA Interim title and Martinez is the WBC Diamond Belt holder as well as the Ring Magazine Champ).

[Glyn Leach]

Criticising the matchmaking is not criticising Barker.
But he's still to regain his form after a long layoff and to expect him to beat a Top 3 P4P fighter in October is unrealistic. Sergio is not Sturm.
Darren wants to make up for lost time, understandably, but he should be guided towards another belt, get some world level experience defending it, then maybe look at Martinez in October 2012.
And isn't SM some sort of diamond champ?

[veriton]

But what is wrong with him going straight for the Number 1 guy? Is losing to the number 1 guy (given how little hope he has of winning apparently) significantly worse than beating, say, Sylvester and Lee and then losing to Martinez? I just don't get the logic. If he's fit, hungry and wants the fight then bloody well go for it. Your argument that he should go for another belt holder helps support the ABC's who insist on divvying up their titles to the extent there are now at least 7 guys calling themselves Middleweight Champion of the World (you missed Hassan N'Jikams WBA Interim title and Martinez is the WBC Diamond Belt holder as well as the Ring Magazine Champ).

Maybe you are onto something. Hearns' bill could look like this:

Sergio Martinez v Darren Barker
Manny Pacquiao v Lee Purdy
Bernard Hopkins v Nathan Cleverly

[earsjohn]

ask esham pickering what going in with someone called martinez before you are ready can do for you

Or ask Ricky Burns what going in with someone called Martinez who is a huge favourite when you have supposedly no chance can do for you.

I really don't get this criticism. Barker has been at Euro level for a while, and had he not had to take so much time out he could well be "ready" for a world level fight. If Macklin can fight Sturm and not get criticised then why shouldn't Barker go after the biggest man in the division. It wasn't long ago that going after "the man" at a weight class was considered the only way to get credit, now it seems that more kudos is placed on going after a weaker champion in order to get a belt rather than trying to prove oneself alongside the elite.

darren barker hasn't really looked world class though, has he? he's a good, solid euro operator. "if he hadn't taken so much time out", if my auntie had a pair of bollocks etc etc

sergio martinez is the real thing and at his peak. barker has done nothing to prove he can hang with martinez, much the same as pickering against mauricio. barker should try and beat someone in the top 10 before he gets a shot at the number one, or maybe i am being old-fashioned.

ricky burns v roman martinez - two fringe title contenders going at each other, no more no less.

Did Ricky Burns look world class in his 8 round points decision over Al-Hamidi or his 12 round Commonwealth title defence against Kevin O'Hara in the 2 fights before the Martinez fight?

And what about Sergio Martinez's record itself prior to the Pavlik victory? He was a journeyman, fringe contender with a solid resume but no wins against named opponents and was on a run of 1 draw (Cintron) and 1 defeat (Williams) going into that fight. Maybe the Argentinian message boards were ablaze, criticising Sergio for going after the Number one in the division, Pavlik, and not taking an easier route to prove himself?

[johnswan1]

If he fought and beat both Sylvester and Lee he would be more experienced against better opposition and hence better prepared to take on somebody like Martinez (whom may also then be showing signs of age). As it stands Martinez is at the top of his game and has been in against the likes of Dzinziruk, Williams, Cintron, Margarito etc. Under your logic a talented fighter on his pro debut should be taking on a British champion rather than building up experience because he may still end up losing to the British champion.

[T.M.K]

Criticising the matchmaking is not criticising Barker.
But he's still to regain his form after a long layoff and to expect him to beat a Top 3 P4P fighter in October is unrealistic. Sergio is not Sturm.
Darren wants to make up for lost time, understandably, but he should be guided towards another belt, get some world level experience defending it, then maybe look at Martinez in October 2012.
And isn't SM some sort of diamond champ?

Agreed. Work back towards a big shot, not right now.

The Diamond belt is not actually a usable title, as I understand it. It is more like a "recognition" and a status-giver..... sounds stupid, but by the WBC's rules it is about as useful as being champion emeritus (and in all seriousness they have loads of those).

Barker gets nothing but kudos from a win - JCC Jr is the WBC champ and if he wants the belt he has to go aftre him.


"T.M.K"/Col

[dutchie]

Better off to have a go against Andy Lee for European defence and if he wins that then why not have a go,but not before as Martinez is a class act.

[dutchie]

Or ask Ricky Burns what going in with someone called Martinez who is a huge favourite when you have supposedly no chance can do for you.

I really don't get this criticism. Barker has been at Euro level for a while, and had he not had to take so much time out he could well be "ready" for a world level fight. If Macklin can fight Sturm and not get criticised then why shouldn't Barker go after the biggest man in the division. It wasn't long ago that going after "the man" at a weight class was considered the only way to get credit, now it seems that more kudos is placed on going after a weaker champion in order to get a belt rather than trying to prove oneself alongside the elite.

The only belt Martinez has is the Ring Magazine belt. He's also ranked no.2 P4P in the world by The Ring. Other beltholders he could go after are:

Felix Sturm - WBA Super
Gennady Golovkin - WBA Regular
Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. - WBC
Daniel Geale - IBF
Dmitry Pirog - WBO

Would it really be so difficult getting a fight against one of these guys? We all want Barker to do well, but Martinez is not only the best in the division, but one of the best in boxing. Barker needs to take on a couple of top ten contenders (see below) before he should be going after somebody like Martinez. Of course he could give a good showing and it may raise his profile and lead to better things, but his chances of winning would be extremely slim. Outside of Martinez I wouldn't rule him out against any of the others.

Top 10 Middleweights

1 Sergio Gabriel Martinez
2 Felix Sturm
3 Daniel Geale
4 Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam
5 Dmitry Pirog
6 Andy Lee
7 Marco Antonio Rubio
8 Sebastian Sylvester
9 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr
10 Matthew Macklin

But what is wrong with him going straight for the Number 1 guy? Is losing to the number 1 guy (given how little hope he has of winning apparently) significantly worse than beating, say, Sylvester and Lee and then losing to Martinez? I just don't get the logic. If he's fit, hungry and wants the fight then bloody well go for it. Your argument that he should go for another belt holder helps support the ABC's who insist on divvying up their titles to the extent there are now at least 7 guys calling themselves Middleweight Champion of the World (you missed Hassan N'Jikams WBA Interim title and Martinez is the WBC Diamond Belt holder as well as the Ring Magazine Champ).

The difference is if he beats the likes of Lee and Sylvester then he is proven at a world level where at the moment he is proven at European level,and entitled to a crack then.

[whiskey]

If Kermit Cintron can beat Martinez i sure as hell don't see the problem with Barker having a good go.

Why wait around forever and a day ? if Darren wants it, then go for it.

Sergio is quality, but let's not pretend he's suddenly a 19-year Mike Tyson cos he aint.

[crusader]

Kermit Cintron didn't beat Martinez.

[earsjohn]

The only belt Martinez has is the Ring Magazine belt. He's also ranked no.2 P4P in the world by The Ring. Other beltholders he could go after are:

Felix Sturm - WBA Super
Gennady Golovkin - WBA Regular
Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. - WBC
Daniel Geale - IBF
Dmitry Pirog - WBO

Would it really be so difficult getting a fight against one of these guys? We all want Barker to do well, but Martinez is not only the best in the division, but one of the best in boxing. Barker needs to take on a couple of top ten contenders (see below) before he should be going after somebody like Martinez. Of course he could give a good showing and it may raise his profile and lead to better things, but his chances of winning would be extremely slim. Outside of Martinez I wouldn't rule him out against any of the others.

Top 10 Middleweights

1 Sergio Gabriel Martinez
2 Felix Sturm
3 Daniel Geale
4 Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam
5 Dmitry Pirog
6 Andy Lee
7 Marco Antonio Rubio
8 Sebastian Sylvester
9 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr
10 Matthew Macklin

But what is wrong with him going straight for the Number 1 guy? Is losing to the number 1 guy (given how little hope he has of winning apparently) significantly worse than beating, say, Sylvester and Lee and then losing to Martinez? I just don't get the logic. If he's fit, hungry and wants the fight then bloody well go for it. Your argument that he should go for another belt holder helps support the ABC's who insist on divvying up their titles to the extent there are now at least 7 guys calling themselves Middleweight Champion of the World (you missed Hassan N'Jikams WBA Interim title and Martinez is the WBC Diamond Belt holder as well as the Ring Magazine Champ).

The difference is if he beats the likes of Lee and Sylvester then he is proven at a world level where at the moment he is proven at European level,and entitled to a crack then.

So a victory over, say, Andy Lee or Sebastien Sylvester would move Darren up one of these intangible levels? By that reckoning, Andy Lee is already closer to the Martinez level so surely he should be looking for a fight with Martinez rather than lowering himself to fight a no-hoper like Barker?

[DougieC30]

Pirog would be better suited for Barker. Martinez just too good.