Darren Barker announces retirement.

[palooka]

He's a Lovely Fella and will do well no matter what he turns his Hand to... best of Luck to him!!

I think I read he's nearly got his commercial pilots licence.

[ThereByTheGrace]

He is one fight too late in my opinion. Nice guy or not, that was a shambles from start to finish in Germany.

[mickey1975]

I think Darren will look back on his career with very conflicting feelings. On the one hand he boxed supremely well against Martinez and can always hold his head up high having given an elite fighter such a competitive fight and then he returned to Atlantic City and beat a decent champion and showed immense grit and desire that time round.

But the frustrating injuries, repeated and clearly debilitating, stopped him from reaching his full potential and the way things unravelled against Sturm must surely disapppoint him. It was such a pity his body said 'no more' at the very point when he should have been reaping the benefits of so many years of hard work.

He got his rewards in the end. I would imagine Sky use him a bit now, too.

[Ezzard]

Seems like a genuine good guy. I hope he has a happy retirement.

But please, Darren, be careful with your money.

[cutsman]

Darren gets my total respect. His fight with Geale was incredible and to get off the canvas and eventually win showed the heart of a lion.

OK he took a payday when he wasn't 100% and realised that his career would soon be over anyway. I understand that and would have done the same in his position.

Plus he does come across as a nice guy so good luck for the future!

[Dixonian]

Darren would have fought many times not being 100% sure of his body's ability to withstand the strain. Sadly, in his last fight it all unravelled. People suggesting he's not a decent bloke, based on pure speculation of his condition prior to the Sturm fight , are being a little unfair.

The last few seconds of his boxing career saw him bite down on his gumshield and throw a flurry of punches with his hip already dislocated. He can walk away with his head held high.

[hurlock]

The lads came back from the dead!! I believe he took a bad kicking in Barney & was renderd unconscious he came back to face hope & the Italian & couldn't even do roadwork as his hips are gone & he did look sensational at euro level which propelled him rightly into world class. Against geale he couldn't do roadwork & struggled through camp & gave it his all & some!!his condition by this stage was in serious decline & took a great offer to go Germany & secure his mortgage giving him a great reward. I think at this stage he couldn't afford not to take it carry out surgery which ain't going to correct his problem & possibly relinquish his title & lose out.anyone who can't understand he's had to turn his back on the sport & walk away from more lucrative pay days because his body is failing him is a moron