Darren Barker massive respect !!!!

[wesley05]

True warrior so close but yet so far what a guy

[Jeff Thomas]

Yep he did really well. Shame he didn't see it through.

[TJ77]

Gutted for him was really hoping he'd do it can be proud and knows he's got other option's wont of hurt his career at all .

[petr]

gutsy effort. made martinez look ordinary at times. gutted.

[Autobarn]

good that british fighters can be competitive vs the very best. this used to happen more often in the 80s and 90s, rather than the last couple of decades.

[dondada]

Performed really well - did better than almost all of us expected.

[Craig14]

I thought the commentary team got it wrong it was alot wider than they had it. What was the official judges scores before the stoppage?

[Jackjackson]

Boxed really well in control first half just started to get broke down in the second half

[johnswan1]

Well done Darren, terrific effort. There will be more big fights on the back of that performance.

[wesley05]

Bearing in mind he was more than holding his own with one of the best "pound4pound"in world boxing he really has a lot to take from the fight. Showed he can mix it with the best big time just came a little short hope he carrys on he can become a world champ defo.

[tobyh5]

Yeah that lad uhm, Baker can rumble

[The 1bangkid]

massive respect!!!! i new he was good but last night he showed it against the best in the world i had him one point down b4 he got knocked out

[Autobarn]

compared to mitchell-katisis and jennings-cotto, this must have been pretty impressive.

martinez v macklin next? or does andy lee get it for dominating aguy he shouldn't have lost to, ages ago.

[ALI]

Yep he did really well. Shame he didn't see it through.

A real shame, he fought a great fight and i would have loved him to dig deep and see it out, the KO did not look like much and i'm inclined to think his heart was no longer in it at that point.

Anybody know what the scorecards looked like up until the KO?

[The 1bangkid]

Yep he did really well. Shame he didn't see it through.

A real shame, he fought a great fight and i would have loved him to dig deep and see it out, the KO did not look like much and i'm inclined to think his heart was no longer in it at that point.

Anybody know what the scorecards looked like up until the KO?

na if you look at the replays it looks like he got hit just behind the ear and only he knows if he could have carryed on

[The Lone Wolf]

I thought the commentary team got it wrong it was alot wider than they had it. What was the official judges scores before the stoppage ?

I agree Jim Watt was getting a bit excited. Martinez was ahead on all 3 cards by 7 rnds 3 rnds and 2 rnds.

Barker done a lot better than I thought and Martinez done well with a broken nose that was causing him breathing problems from an early stage.

[alexpaterson]

First half of the fight he was superb, dictated with that jab and blocked the majority of Martinez's punches. A few times he landed brilliant left hooks as Martinez stepped in. He showed he's capable of winning a world title, I would favour him over Chavez or Geale to be honest. Hopefully Hearn delivers his promise of another crack at a title.

[JimJim2009]

I watched the HBO broadcast and for what its worth they gave every round but the 4th to Martinez.

That said, the commentary team, including Manny Steward, were very complimentary about Barker's game effort.

[Baboon]

I watched the HBO broadcast and for what its worth they gave every round but the 4th to Martinez.

That said, the commentary team, including Manny Steward, were very complimentary about Barker's game effort.

Ouch, that's a pretty harsh scorecard from HBO, they clearly werent giving credit for Barker blocking a helluva lot of Martinez shots early doors. Great effort from Barker, Martinez as always came across as a classy guy in the interview too. Great stuff, enjoyed watching that and glad that Barker came out with credit.

[Happy Slapper]

I watched the HBO broadcast and for what its worth they gave every round but the 4th to Martinez.

That said, the commentary team, including Manny Steward, were very complimentary about Barker's game effort.

What fight were they watching? I agreed with Jim Watt's scorecard, for once. Great effort by Barker, and I genuinely believe he only got done by a bit of inexperience down the stretch. If this shot had came in 2 or 3 fights time, there would have been a very real chance of an upset.

[forcefraser]

I'd take Macklin over Barker. Macklin should have got the nod over Sturm, and went for it a lot more.

I had Barker 4 rounds down going into the 11th. It was a game effort, but he just did not throw enough leather.

[Datsue]

I thought Barker won three rounds, tops. As I said in another thread though he gave it his all & I would like to add I'm glad he put it all on the line & went out on his shield.

Far too much "mutual respect" goes on in modern championship fights when a guy clearly doesn't want to be there & just hangs on so he can say "At least I went the distance with..." Fvck that. I'm glad Barker thought "Come on then son, have it". Far more commendable, in my opinion, even though it led to him being put in a position where he was taken out himself.

[broomy7s]

Great effort from the lad, showed he can mix it with the best and hopefully can bounce back from this. Had him 3 rounds down going into the 11th.

[warmachine]

I know Darren and I am so proud of him. he proved he could hang at world class and he would beat felix strum i reckon, thoughnot in Germany . Well done mate Gary woulda been proud.

[wesley05]

I know Darren and I am so proud of him. he proved he could hang at world class and he would beat felix strum i reckon, thoughnot in Germany . Well done mate Gary woulda been proud.

Top call mate