BoxRec

He was very wound up and i assume that this was his first time on tv so he was clearly trying too hard but after watching him it's hard to imagine that he'd ever be any good fighting in that style. He doesn't have the bodytype/coordination/reflexes for that style surely he'd be better off trying to copy Matthew Hall or Hatton type style rather than Naz.

Got to feel for the Latvian. He's obviously a decent novice who would be being built up if he was a Brit but will be starting his 3rd fight without a win on the record. I suppose it's his choice and this must be preferable than the alternative of building his career in Latvia though.

He's got the right coaches - he's at arguably the best gym in the country, the gym where he has been boxing since he was seven.

The kid can fight and despite his setback on Saturday - where he boxed very poorly - he will come through. As twenty-six says, too many people who know what they're talking about rate him very, very highly.

by the way, i hear that latvian kid is having a rematch with evans next month ... could be interesting

for the record i scored the barnes fight 39-37 (not counting the KD) ... barnes did a better job than evans who is at least one division bigger and a former senior ABA title winner - steve turned pro before any senior amateur fights (but was an outstanding junior amateur)

He's a talent.
A lot of pressure was on him and those that have been in the ring know what that can do to your performance if you don't handle it too well.

The thing is he's very very young and therefore there is a long road ahead for him to put the gym work into practice.
When he settles down i think he'll be a very good prospect and he'll most likely come through.

People writing him off i think is very premature.

danfoster wrote:He's got the right coaches - he's at arguably the best gym in the country, the gym where he has been boxing since he was seven.

The kid can fight and despite his setback on Saturday - where he boxed very poorly - he will come through. As twenty-six says, too many people who know what they're talking about rate him very, very highly.

don't want to sound like a d1ck, and i respect yours and 26's opinion, but we have all heard it before, Ingle Camp hype that such and such was going to be a world beater, better than Naz when he was 14, that kind of stuff.

not saying he won't come good, but i won't take their word for it just yet

Counter-puncher wrote:

danfoster wrote:He's got the right coaches - he's at arguably the best gym in the country, the gym where he has been boxing since he was seven.

The kid can fight and despite his setback on Saturday - where he boxed very poorly - he will come through. As twenty-six says, too many people who know what they're talking about rate him very, very highly.

don't want to sound like a d1ck, and i respect yours and 26's opinion, but we have all heard it before, Ingle Camp hype that such and such was going to be a world beater, better than Naz when he was 14, that kind of stuff.

not saying he won't come good, but i won't take their word for it just yet

Very true, how many fighters have the Ingles said that about? Also Brendan was priaing some ex-con HW who she said would win British, commonwealth and European titles. I then had a look at him and he was total sh!t and I mean sh!t, no power, stands up straight when throwing punches and goes backward in straight lines and he's 28. Champions can be seen from ealry in there careers, they have some different about them, he aint no champion.

I thought Barnes disappointed, but that's the first time I've seen him and the Latvian looks a tough unorthodox sort. Didn't think interviewing the kid before the fight did him any favours. Let him win the fight big, then talk big. Instead he talks big with a microphone forced under his nose then goes out and tries too hard for the impressive finish.......can't remember but I'm guessing it was another Gabriel Clarke 'inspired' interview.....

It's true that Brendan hypes a lot of kids - but Dominic doesn't. In fact I have never, ever heard him go over the top about a young fighter. Usually quite the opposite.

Also, when a guy like Dave Coldwell - with no reason whatsoever to hype up a kid who boxes in a different gym and promotional stable - comes on here and says the kid can fight then perhaps we should listen and give the kid a break. And Dave should know because (correct me if i'm wrong, Dave) he trained him for a while at the Manor gym.

For what it's worth i think that gabriel clarke IV was a disaster and made steve tense and determined to go for the KO - he started loading up and trying to impress rather than just box. He forgot his jab and lost his rhythm from there.

Simple errors that are easy to remedy. The poster who put that he can't punch will certainly realise that comment (if nothing else) is completely wrong. Don't forget last result before boxing the Latvian was a RSF 1 and he also dropped his opponent with his first punches in pro boxing.

In fact, check out the video of his match against Niesporek http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNLIGOH_sUk and you'll see how Steve can box very nicely indeed ...

Did Bradley Evans get this much flack when he only got a draw with him.He is a 18 year kid had no senior bouts and still learning he won the fight even without the knockdown and lts face it who would look against Kirillovs its all a learning curve.......get off is back

danfoster wrote:It's true that Brendan hypes a lot of kids - but Dominic doesn't. In fact I have never, ever heard him go over the top about a young fighter. Usually quite the opposite.

Also, when a guy like Dave Coldwell - with no reason whatsoever to hype up a kid who boxes in a different gym and promotional stable - comes on here and says the kid can fight then perhaps we should listen and give the kid a break. And Dave should know because (correct me if i'm wrong, Dave) he trained him for a while at the Manor gym.

For what it's worth i think that gabriel clarke IV was a disaster and made steve tense and determined to go for the KO - he started loading up and trying to impress rather than just box. He forgot his jab and lost his rhythm from there.

Simple errors that are easy to remedy. The poster who put that he can't punch will certainly realise that comment (if nothing else) is completely wrong. Don't forget last result before boxing the Latvian was a RSF 1 and he also dropped his opponent with his first punches in pro boxing.

In fact, check out the video of his match against Niesporek http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNLIGOH_sUk and you'll see how Steve can box very nicely indeed ...

I still don't think he will amount to very much, domestic level titles at best. He is on a learning curve, fair enough, but his style has loads of holes in it. No defence to speak of, stands too upright, does'nt switch punches to the body very often and does'nt seem to create good angles. A lot of his punches land on his opponents gloves. I don't think he has that much power either and looks rather awkward. To have the style that he does, requires more athleticism than Barnes seems to have. He has'nt got great agility or quickness of feet and the reflexes seem quite slow and it has to be remembered that despite it being his first pro fight, he was fighting an absolute nobody. I'm still not impressed, but good luck to him.....

Ps He is not the first guy to get headlines fighting like Naseem Hamed and failed to deliver. Nikki Smedley was raising eyebrows two or three years ago and has done nothing to date and won nothing !!

Steve Barnes Snr is clearly a natural on the camera. Get more of this man on TV

I will accept the boy is young and impetious and wanting to make an impression when boxing on TV, however the biggest flaw for me is that he thinks he is better than he actually is at this stage and so not just boxing and learning.

He was trumpeted as some mega banger of the Naz mold and so he is just thinking he can do what the smeg he likes as one smash to the chops will get the win and be all anyone remembers. Really thinks he is Naz and can screw around and then land one killer shot.

Well obviously I have not taken a pop from him so have no real knowledge about it and I am sure he can smack a bit but I did not sense some murderous puncher.

Hard if not harsh to dismiss a 18 year old kid but I am almost certain he will go nowhere and his dads atttitude, highlighted here with all that woods, flint, eating fornicate all and other stuff he was spouting shows what that they have no appreciation that boxing is an art and just think it is a battle of who is toughest/hits hardest.

Sorry boys, this is not a quick wham bam in the school playground.

tobyh5 wrote:I will accept the boy is young and impetious and wanting to make an impression when boxing on TV, however the biggest flaw for me is that he thinks he is better than he actually is at this stage and so not just boxing and learning.

He was trumpeted as some mega banger of the Naz mold and so he is just thinking he can do what the smeg he likes as one smash to the chops will get the win and be all anyone remembers. Really thinks he is Naz and can screw around and then land one killer shot.

Well obviously I have not taken a pop from him so have no real knowledge about it and I am sure he can smack a bit but I did not sense some murderous puncher.

Hard if not harsh to dismiss a 18 year old kid but I am almost certain he will go nowhere and his dads atttitude, highlighted here with all that woods, flint, eating eff all and other stuff he was spouting shows what that they have no appreciation that boxing is an art and just think it is a battle of who is toughest/hits hardest.

Sorry boys, this is not a quick wham bam in the school playground.

Don't know if you have read my posts Toby, but i am of the same opinion

Ps Nice to see you on here mate.

Cheers Quix, been here a while but not a big poster.

I've sat and read two pages on Steve here, and to be quite honest, 50% of what i've read is fabricated laughable rubbish, 25% of it is rediculous talk that Barnes is incapable of boxing, 15% consisted of more rubbish, and 10% rounded things up with some decent comments.

Cut him some slack, stop jumping on the derogatory band wagon and get behind him!

This kid is hot, red hot. He's British and we should be proud that this country is still capable of producing talent like him.

His dad deserves a lot of praise on many levels because he's spent night and day making sure he stays grounded and level headed aswell as training him 5, 6 and 7 days a week.

Maybe he did have an off one, but instead of being so negative think of the reasons why it might have happened. His opposition was an ugly fighter, nothing technically amazing but he was awkward and strong, yet barnes did just enough to get by.

This kind of performance has happened to the best out there, its a part of the sport and it happens!!!

He just needs to settle in, you've so got to remember he's 18 years old.

In november last year, at the tender age of 17 years old, he stepped beyond the ropes and boxed 4 rounds against a 39year old man in Ireland and stepped out the ring with his first professional victory.

How many 18 year olds have the discipline that this kid has got, to be where he is today!

I've got nothing but admiration for Steve Barnes and i know this lads got everything to make it to the top.

I'd never judge a kid at this age and dismiss his future after one bout, and if any of you had any boxing knack at all, you wouldn't either.

I cannot wait for Barnes to prove you all wrong lads i really can't.

roman09 wrote:I've sat and read two pages on Steve here, and to be quite honest, 50% of what i've read is fabricated laughable rubbish, 25% of it is rediculous talk that Barnes is incapable of boxing, 15% consisted of more rubbish, and 10% rounded things up with some decent comments.

Cut him some slack, stop jumping on the derogatory band wagon and get behind him!

This kid is hot, red hot. He's British and we should be proud that this country is still capable of producing talent like him.

His dad deserves a lot of praise on many levels because he's spent night and day making sure he stays grounded and level headed aswell as training him 5, 6 and 7 days a week.

Maybe he did have an off one, but instead of being so negative think of the reasons why it might have happened. His opposition was an ugly fighter, nothing technically amazing but he was awkward and strong, yet barnes did just enough to get by.

This kind of performance has happened to the best out there, its a part of the sport and it happens!!!

He just needs to settle in, you've so got to remember he's 18 years old.

In november last year, at the tender age of 17 years old, he stepped beyond the ropes and boxed 4 rounds against a 39year old man in Ireland and stepped out the ring with his first professional victory.

How many 18 year olds have the discipline that this kid has got, to be where he is today!

I've got nothing but admiration for Steve Barnes and i know this lads got everything to make it to the top.

I'd never judge a kid at this age and dismiss his future after one bout, and if any of you had any boxing knack at all, you wouldn't either.

I cannot wait for Barnes to prove you all wrong lads i really can't.

Your just making generalistic statements and have'nt backed up your argument with anything constructive at all. When you say "this kid is hot, red hot....." back it up with something other than glib comments !!

His father deserves credit, he trains hard, he's British etc etc, what has all that got to do with whether the kid is any good ? Iv'e not just seen his last performance, iv'e seen one of his other two fights and i still have the same opinion, as do a lot of other people on this forum. You say that we are dismissing his future, but your wrong. I can't speak for the people on this board, but i think he does have a future, just not at the exalted heights that Brendan Ingle came out with on saturday night. The kid will win a British title at best and if we are premature to knock his ambitions, then surely Brendan and Dominic Ingle are premature to say that he will go all the way to world level.

I know a lot more more about Steve than every postee on this thread put together, i don't need to back anything up at all i know what his talents are in the ring and he has a hell of a lot of them, 4 national titles and a 4 nations gold medal dont come to those who lack speed power and agility.

He had to turn pro at his age because no one, no one would box him in the am's.

He has everything in his favour to be a world champion. Steve in training is special, speed accuracy, power, movement he has it all, southpaw, orthodox, and the names he's sparring with reflect that. Just ask kel/junior/ryan and the list will go on.

Funny how not many of you caught/choose to mention anything about his second bout in which he knocked Ryan Seager out in the first round.

ITV4 hasn't scratched the surface of what's on offer in Barnes and thats a fact.

He needs another 3 bouts to establish what he is all about and to squash out rediculous threads like this and then you'll realise that actually, the Ingles know a lot more about boxing than you do!

He had a shocker of a performance on Saturday night but his performance in Watford was excellent. Saturday was merely an off night for Barnes. He certainly is a top prospect in my eyes.

roman09 wrote:
He needs another 3 bouts to establish what he is all about

Let's hope that he is matched up with some opponents who can test him a bit more.

Yes, its a "learning curve" but his first three opponents had a total of 1 win between them. It wouldn't have been unthinkable to have scored that last bout as a 38-38, taking into account a false knockdown and the fact that the Latvian could be said to have won two rounds.

Personally, I'd love to see him matched with one of the Walsh Brothers or Vinny Mitchell.

roman09 wrote:I know a lot more more about Steve than every postee on this thread put together, i don't need to back anything up at all i know what his talents are in the ring and he has a hell of a lot of them, 4 national titles and a 4 nations gold medal dont come to those who lack speed power and agility.

He had to turn pro at his age because no one, no one would box him in the am's.

He has everything in his favour to be a world champion. Steve in training is special, speed accuracy, power, movement he has it all, southpaw, orthodox, and the names he's sparring with reflect that. Just ask kel/junior/ryan and the list will go on.

Funny how not many of you caught/choose to mention anything about his second bout in which he knocked Ryan Seager out in the first round.

ITV4 hasn't scratched the surface of what's on offer in Barnes and thats a fact.

He needs another 3 bouts to establish what he is all about and to squash out rediculous threads like this and then you'll realise that actually, the Ingles know a lot more about boxing than you do!

I have said that i'm prepared to give the kid the benefit of the doubt and i will watch his performances with interest in the near future. I would damn well hope that the ingles no more about boxing than i do, as anyone who gets paid for a living in their their chosen field, should know more then someone who does'nt get paid and is a casual observer. Brendan has been known to go overboard about fighters in his stable before and whilst the Ingle gym is quite rightly described as one of the best gyms around, the potential of particular fighters does'nt always come off. Most of Ingle's fighters are given the same basic technique, especially to be able to switch between southpaw and orthadox stances, have some decent movement and to work off a jab to set up all the attacks. Hamed, Rhodes, Nelson, Anderson, Graham all had those same attributes, but it's how you adapt to those basics and how they are combined with your own natural talents and instincts, that will determine how far you can go. From what i can see, he lacks basic technique in a lot of areas, he stands too up right, he rarely switches from head to body, he looks off balance a lot of the time, he does'nt seem to create good angles, does'nt plant his feet and does'nt have real knock-out power or real athleticism. We shall see how he gos on, but i would be suprised if he gets beyond a British title. Sparring is one thing, fighting for real is another and even though he is only 18 years of age, he should have taken ALL three of his opponents out in easy fashion and as one posters has said, it would'nt have been a travesty if he had drawn in his last fight and was quite fortunate to get the decision.

For you to say - quote "he rarely switches from head to body, he looks off balance a lot of the time, he does'nt seem to create good angles, doesn't plant his feet and does'nt have real knock-out power or real athleticism", proves to me your too eager to criticise and you don't know, and haven't seen enough of Barnes to have that opinion!

Steve has the technique to go all the way, he was revved up Saturday and did get a little sloppy but that also had a lot to do with the latvian being an ever messier fighter. As i have said previously, this has happened and will continue to happen to the best because the best are the ones who have it all to lose.

When a boxer has got potential, the reason they get so much negativity is because people are envious of success, whether your an armchair boxing fan or ex seasoned pro, if someone is hyped up and they under perform, everyone jumps on the bang wagon to put them down which for me is dissapointing, again to state the fact Steve is only 18 years old, he doesn't deserve the criticism he's received in this thread.

I'm not going to continue to bang about how good Barnes is, i'll let him do all my talking in his next 3 bouts.

I enjoyed this guys, i'll be back again soon to chat some more.

roman09 wrote:For you to say - quote "he rarely switches from head to body, he looks off balance a lot of the time, he does'nt seem to create good angles, doesn't plant his feet and does'nt have real knock-out power or real athleticism", proves to me your too eager to criticise and you don't know, and haven't seen enough of Barnes to have that opinion!

Steve has the technique to go all the way, he was revved up Saturday and did get a little sloppy but that also had a lot to do with the latvian being an ever messier fighter. As i have said previously, this has happened and will continue to happen to the best because the best are the ones who have it all to lose.

When a boxer has got potential, the reason they get so much negativity is because people are envious of success, whether your an armchair boxing fan or ex seasoned pro, if someone is hyped up and they under perform, everyone jumps on the bang wagon to put them down which for me is dissapointing, again to state the fact Steve is only 18 years old, he doesn't deserve the criticism he's received in this thread.

I'm not going to continue to bang about how good Barnes is, i'll let him do all my talking in his next 3 bouts.

I enjoyed this guys, i'll be back again soon to chat some more.

roman09 wrote:
He had to turn pro at his age because no one, no one would box him in the am's.

Couldnt he have entered the Senior ABA's this year, people would've had to box him there. If he'd won that he couldve gone to the senior 4 nations, international tournaments and the worlds and the olympics are only 3 years away, he'd be 21... ??

Perhaps no local kids would box him, but you cant say no seniors would... ???

The beauty of the world is that you can debate this all day long and get nowhere however the truth will be revealed as the years pass.

As I said he is young and it is perhaps harsh to write him off on a performance when he was keen to impress, however I stick to my original belief, which is a gut feeling, that he will go nowhere. I think his top end level will be to somewhere around or just below British title level.

I do not mean disprespect to British Champions when I class that as "nowhere" because British titles are a great achievement, I mean it in relative terms because they are talking like this kid is going to rule the world and when you aim to rule the world, Champ of one small isle is one heck of a failure.

Abbo wrote:He can't pick a shot, he's inaccurate, he doesnt seem to dig and can be hit easily.

Not for me.

you can not judge a kid on that after only 3 fights won 4 national titles and 4 nations gold so his accurate int he...this kid tried too hard to ko the lad infront of tv.so easy for a youngen to do plus a clash of styles..he still won for me..and did evans get this stick...judge the lad after 10 fights not 3 or check is other 2..he does have power too lots of it but it wont happen if he loads up...i watched him in amateurs and never really seen him in any trouble hee will cum through