Darren Barker set to face Italian for vacant European title

[dondada]

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/darren ... pean-title

[Horse]

You are not authorized to access this page.

This is all I can get at the moment.

[bennie]

The Italians are up to their tricks again.

[dondada]

Ha ha! Sorry Horse and others...forgot to click 'publish' last night...it's there now.

[stujones]

Its a bit like pass the parcel when there are only 2 people in the birthday party - Macklin and Barker.

[slapbangwhallop]

Even though it is very predictable that an Italian slips into the hot seat, Spada is the first decent fighter that Barker has ever faced in his massively padded and protected career.

Certainly better than his shameful decision to face Belgacham last time.

[Dioufy]

Three years ago I was convinced Barker was destined to make it. It's a crying shame that three years later he's fighting the same type of fighters. Not one meaningful fight, and that looks unlikely to change. He needs to do a John Murray and not renew his contract. God damn joke.

[Autobarn]

he has had injuries, though, and let's not forget his career was stalled for a year or two after his brother's death.

[Dioufy]

he has had injuries, though, and let's not forget his career was stalled for a year or two after his brother's death.

You're right, injuries have to be blamed, too, but look at the names since the Bendell fight, where he showed great skills. Six names later, and not one quality operator between them. Barker has won belts, then stagnated. Murray has seen the light, and I don't think it's long before Barker does the same.

[liamlion]

Macklin, hang your head in shame. Blantantly robbing the british boxing fans of a great match-up.

Good luck Barker, I hope you go all the way son!

[slapbangwhallop]

Macklin, hang your head in shame. Blantantly robbing the british boxing fans of a great match-up.

Good luck Barker, I hope you go all the way son!

Yeah, curses on him for chasing a world title!

A curse on his family's heads for a 1,000 years!

[Horse]

Even though it is very predictable that an Italian slips into the hot seat, Spada is the first decent fighter that Barker has ever faced in his massively padded and protected career.

Certainly better than his shameful decision to face Belghecham last time.

Belgacham is Andy Lee's best win, so I find it a bit odd that you are slagging him off.

[slapbangwhallop]

Even though it is very predictable that an Italian slips into the hot seat, Spada is the first decent fighter that Barker has ever faced in his massively padded and protected career.

Certainly better than his shameful decision to face Belghecham last time.

Belgacham is Andy Lee's best win, so I find it a bit odd that you are slagging him off.

So what I ain't some sort of PR machine for Lee?

I am slagging him off as an opponent for a European title.

Although I think Lee's win over Gibbs was more significant, I ain't going to defend Lee's résumé. It's weak as English lager. But thank God he is finally facing someone credible in Craig McEwan.

However, Lee handled Belgacham a lot easier than Barker managed to. Detractors may focus on the last 30 seconds of the fight and ignore the previous 1,770 second but Lee completely outboxed him.

But we are going off topic now.

[liamlion]

Macklin, hang your head in shame. Blantantly robbing the british boxing fans of a great match-up.

Good luck Barker, I hope you go all the way son!

Yeah, curses on him for chasing a world title!

A curse on his family's heads for a 1,000 years!

Yeah, against a bloke who hasnt fought for 2 years (or only twice in 4 years) as opposed to a young, hungry, undefeated domestic rival, who actively campaigns at the weight.

Yeah, sure Wright is a big name from the late 90s/early-to-mid naughties but he isnt currently rated in the WBC, IBF or WBA's ranking. Whereas Barker is rated #5 by the WBC and #10 by the IBF.

Just out of interest, are you able to tell me when Wright last fought at 160 lbs?? That probably tells you how credible and relevant this fight actually is.

For the record, I say this out of genuine disappointment rather than any malice.

[Horse]

Macklin vs Wright is a good fight. I think it will help Macklin get a World title fight more than a Barker fight would.

[Feargal....]

Macklin, hang your head in shame. Blantantly robbing the british boxing fans of a great match-up.

Good luck Barker, I hope you go all the way son!

Yeah, curses on him for chasing a world title!

A curse on his family's heads for a 1,000 years!

Yeah, against a bloke who hasnt fought for 2 years (or only twice in 4 years) as opposed to a young, hungry, undefeated domestic rival, who actively campaigns at the weight.

Yeah, sure Wright is a big name from the late 90s/early-to-mid naughties but he isnt currently rated in the WBC, IBF or WBA's ranking. Whereas Barker is rated #5 by the WBC and #10 by the IBF.

Just out of interest, are you able to tell me when Wright last fought at 160 lbs?? That probably tells you how credible and relevant this fight actually is.

For the record, I say this out of genuine disappointment rather than any malice.

The Winky Wright fight will greatly improve Macklins profile in the US. Winky is a well known boxer in the US, while Barker is an unknown fighter. Fighting Barker will do nothing to improve Macklins profile in the US and do nothing to improve his chances for a world title shot in the States.

[slapbangwhallop]

Macklin, hang your head in shame. Blantantly robbing the british boxing fans of a great match-up.

Good luck Barker, I hope you go all the way son!

Yeah, curses on him for chasing a world title!

A curse on his family's heads for a 1,000 years!

Yeah, against a bloke who hasnt fought for 2 years (or only twice in 4 years) as opposed to a young, hungry, undefeated domestic rival, who actively campaigns at the weight.

Yeah, sure Wright is a big name from the late 90s/early-to-mid naughties but he isnt currently rated in the WBC, IBF or WBA's ranking. Whereas Barker is rated #5 by the WBC and #10 by the IBF.

Just out of interest, are you able to tell me when Wright last fought at 160 lbs?? That probably tells you how credible and relevant this fight actually is.

For the record, I say this out of genuine disappointment rather than any malice.

Macklin is rated in those organisations as well - and higher. Winky bring a recognised name to the résumé.

How is beating Barker going to help Macklin get to a world title fight?

Macklin could have got to fight Martinez in March had he been known in the states.

But the network said that whilst he was a credible opponent their public never heard of him.

Fighting Wright will gain him that recognition.

How credible is the fight? Lets put it this way, people much all the American writers and fans think Wright will outbox Macklin and the bookies in the states have Winky favourite aswell.

[leforge]

Yeah, curses on him for chasing a world title!

A curse on his family's heads for a 1,000 years!

Yeah, against a bloke who hasnt fought for 2 years (or only twice in 4 years) as opposed to a young, hungry, undefeated domestic rival, who actively campaigns at the weight.

Yeah, sure Wright is a big name from the late 90s/early-to-mid naughties but he isnt currently rated in the WBC, IBF or WBA's ranking. Whereas Barker is rated #5 by the WBC and #10 by the IBF.

Just out of interest, are you able to tell me when Wright last fought at 160 lbs?? That probably tells you how credible and relevant this fight actually is.

For the record, I say this out of genuine disappointment rather than any malice.

Macklin is rated in those organisations as well - and higher. Winky bring a recognised name to the résumé.

How is beating Barker going to help Macklin get to a world title fight?

Macklin could have got to fight Martinez in March had he been known in the states.

But the network said that whilst he was a credible opponent their public never heard of him.

Fighting Wright will gain him that recognition.

How credible is the fight? Lets put it this way, people much all the American writers and fans think Wright will outbox Macklin and the bookies in the states have Winky favourite aswell.

Fighting Wright too good opportunity to turn down. Macklin will be back to his best!

[Counter-puncher]

I bet, if he wins this fight, that it will really go a long way towards silencing his critics

[Counter-puncher]

especially the Irish critics, who always tend to back down when faced with solid arguments and an indisuputably impressive body of work and opposition. like what barker's had recently.

[slapbangwhallop]

especially the Irish critics, who always tend to back down when faced with solid arguments and an indisuputably impressive body of work and opposition. like what barker's had recently.

I think anyone would back down if "faced with solid arguments" that contradict their position. It's call having intelligence.

But you baffle me with regards the "an indisuputably impressive body of work and opposition" - please dont tell me you are referring to Barker with regards that comment!

Despite the pandering treatment Barker enjoys at Boxing News, I simply dont like the way Barker has gone his business - a. facing Belgacham for the EBU title instead of a strong available opponent - namely Lee, and b. the fiasco about his injury leading up to the last Macklin fight in Birmingham.

Irish fans are rightly "miffed" over that. There were a lot of people that booked flights, tickets, hotels etc on the back of him coming out and denying that he was injured despite there being accusations of this on a number of forums and basically calling the people saying he was injured liars and yet only a day or so later he pulled out of the fight leaving FW a very short period of time to find a replacement.

Now I know these things happen in boxing, just dont expect me to like it. If the shoe was on the other foot and Lee pulled out of a Barker fight in Limerick in similar circumstances then there would have been uproar. But barely a word was said about it, hence my lingering bitterness towards the fighter.

[THEBUTCH]

Good fight for Barker. Decent opposition and EBU belt (that he never lost in the ring) on the line too.

Considering what Darren's been through he's showing real courage and confidence in himself to jump straight back in at championship level without a warm up.

As long as Barker keeps winning, I can see him boxing for a world title with 18 months.

[Datsue]

So what I ain't some sort of PR machine for Lee?

You aren't? Fvck me, that's another of my illusions shattered, then.

[Counter-puncher]

But you baffle me with regards the "an indisuputably impressive body of work and opposition" - please dont tell me you are referring to Barker with regards that comment!

i'm not surprised it baffled you. it was irony.

[slapbangwhallop]

But you baffle me with regards the "an indisuputably impressive body of work and opposition" - please dont tell me you are referring to Barker with regards that comment!

i'm not surprised it baffled you. it was irony.

Trumped by your razor sharp wit once again!