BoxRec

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Didn't think it would have happened aswell. Good stuff.

I really rate and like Barker, but this is coming way too early for him, if true.

Definately signed up its all over the net. Tough ask for Darren.

Terrrrry wrote:I really rate and like Barker, but this is coming way too early for him, if true.

Barker isn't going to get much better, if at all. Good luck to him. I will enjoy the fight.

Can't see him beating Martinez, no way. I think Barker will level out at euro level and hopefully eventually fight Macklin which will be a good pick 'em fight.

supposedly its Lee v Vera on the undercard and Lee turned the fight with Martinez down first. Wise move!

Barker is going to get slaughtered.

very tough ask for barker , hope hes getting paid well

slapbangwhallop wrote:supposedly its Lee v Vera on the undercard and Lee turned the fight with Martinez down first. Wise move!

Barker is going to get slaughtered.

Not sure I'd go with the term slaughter, but hard to argue with the outcome. Yet to see anyone make a case for Barker being remotely competitive in this fight. Bad timing. Sensible move by Lee as well.

Asterix wrote:

Terrrrry wrote:I really rate and like Barker, but this is coming way too early for him, if true.

Barker isn't going to get much better, if at all. Good luck to him. I will enjoy the fight.

We all know that losing his 'o' in today's boxing world will set him back somewhat.

I'd love him to beat Martinez, but it's not going to happen and with Barker's lack of experience at world level, he needs to broken in and built up steadily against good, steady world level operators, not the middleweight king who is head and shoulders above the rest.

I could understand this if Martinez was a huge name here or if Barker was going out to fight Pretty Boy Floyd, but this in today's boxing world seems way out of left-field. But hey, maybe that's not a bad thing.

This matchmaking smells of Eddie Hearn trying to step out of his dad's shadow and prove he can mix it with the big boys rather than playing it smart which is what warren has done all his career.

Fair play to Barker for taking it though.

Incidentally, Eddie is proving more competent and able than the warren's kids who remind me of the chuckle brothers.

Terrrrry wrote:

Asterix wrote:

Terrrrry wrote:I really rate and like Barker, but this is coming way too early for him, if true.

Barker isn't going to get much better, if at all. Good luck to him. I will enjoy the fight.

We all know that losing his 'o' in today's boxing world will set him back somewhat.

I'd love him to beat Martinez, but it's not going to happen and with Barker's lack of experience at world level, he needs to broken in and built up steadily against good, steady world level operators, not the middleweight king who is head and shoulders above the rest.

I could understand this if Martinez was a huge name here or if Barker was going out to fight Pretty Boy Floyd, but this in today's boxing world seems way out of left-field. But hey, maybe that's not a bad thing.

I think the mystique of an '0' is being slowly dismissed. Someone wrote elsewhere on these boards about the impact of Hatton and Calzaghe, who were both unbeaten for so long, and how they defined the approach to unbeaten boxing records. Now we have 5 World Champions, four of whom have been beaten, but they are defined by their response to their adversities rather than the actual losses. They have proven that a loss is not the end of the game.

Further, it's a bit of a no lose situation for Daz. Will being beaten by a p4p contender at his peak really have a detrimental impact on his career? I would even argue that losing to Martinez will do more for his career at this point than beating, say, Geale or N'Jikam. He can rebound with a (winnable and lucrative) match up with Macklin and he'd still have about 8 world champions to go after. Do the apparently unthinkable and beat Martinez and the world's his lobster.

Good luck to him. I will be watching and cheering him on, but in all honesty I cannot see him winning. Hope he proves me wrong though.

Why not take the fight? good to see him not protecting his '0' and fighting poor fighters till he gets gifted a world title. Even if he loses, as long as he does fairly well, he will raise his stock in the middle weight division.

COME ON BARKER, LETS SUPPORT HIM!!!!!

^^^

Agreed.

I'd much rather we had just one, genuine world champion than a dozen Allegedly champions that get gifted a title over the phone.

If Barker beats Martinez (which he probably won't granted) he's the man, well and truly in the MW division.

I see nothing wrong with Barker having a go here really, whilst accepting Martinez is amongst our elite today we have to take stock of the opponents
that have put him there, last five fights are Paul Williams x 2, Pavlik, Cintron and Dzinziruk, now whilst they are all decent fighters none of them resemble a great or semi great for me.

The first Williams fight I have watched three times, Williams got the decision and I thought it was fair to be honest, Martinez was caught an awful lot and outworked in some rounds and no problem with Martinez being on the wrong end of that. The Cintron fight got given a draw and having watched it Martinez won by 4 rounds for me so poor decision but to allow Judges to make a fight with Cintron close makes you certainly not unbeatable.

Pavlik was in the middle of "demonworld" and parts of that fight were interesting although he lost clearly.

Now I expect Martinez to win but we must not forget the guy has been down quite a lot in his career, Richard Williams was laying it on him in spurts in there first fight many moons ago, the guy kind of fights to the level in front of him until he gets hurt then seems to have extra gears but there is no reason Barker should not give this a go, it tells the kid where he's at, defines where he goes next, either stay in the world circle or move back down and try and dominate Europe for a few years then have a final crack at the top.

Plaudits from me, Barker has some skills and lets see how they compare, do I think he wins? No. However, I find it a fascinating thought to see him in the ring with "Maravilla" so its a terrific
opportunity for the lad.

earsjohn wrote:I think the mystique of an '0' is being slowly dismissed. Someone wrote elsewhere on these boards about the impact of Hatton and Calzaghe, who were both unbeaten for so long, and how they defined the approach to unbeaten boxing records. Now we have 5 World Champions, four of whom have been beaten, but they are defined by their response to their adversities rather than the actual losses. They have proven that a loss is not the end of the game.

Couldn't agree more — providing the loss isn't too traumatic. Being competitive but outboxed against a superior opponent isn't a problem, it can be a growing experience. But being humiliated over 12 rounds like Pavlik and Lacy can shatter a fighter mentally. Being stopped depends on the manner of stoppage, obviously.

very bad move by his promotional team. seems like their egos, and wish to be the big boys, are over-riding what is best for their boxers. this is a terrible fight for barker.

Josh1111 wrote:Why not take the fight? good to see him not protecting his '0' and fighting poor fighters till he gets gifted a world title. Even if he loses, as long as he does fairly well, he will raise his stock in the middle weight division.

COME ON BARKER, LETS SUPPORT HIM!!!!!

Well said mate. Totally agree.

slapbangwhallop wrote:supposedly its Lee v Vera on the undercard and Lee turned the fight with Martinez down first. Wise move!

Barker is going to get slaughtered.

american television would never have gone with the irish audley harrison!

This is better, people already being more positive. Not many of us will expect Barker to win but we will all support the lad. Takes balls of steal to take a fight like this

GLOBALBOX wrote:I see nothing wrong with Barker having a go here really, whilst accepting Martinez is amongst our elite today we have to take stock of the opponents
that have put him there, last five fights are Paul Williams x 2, Pavlik, Cintron and Dzinziruk, now whilst they are all decent fighters none of them resemble a great or semi great for me.

The first Williams fight I have watched three times, Williams got the decision and I thought it was fair to be honest, Martinez was caught an awful lot and outworked in some rounds and no problem with Martinez being on the wrong end of that. The Cintron fight got given a draw and having watched it Martinez won by 4 rounds for me so poor decision but to allow Judges to make a fight with Cintron close makes you certainly not unbeatable.

Pavlik was in the middle of "demonworld" and parts of that fight were interesting although he lost clearly.

Now I expect Martinez to win but we must not forget the guy has been down quite a lot in his career, Richard Williams was laying it on him in spurts in there first fight many moons ago, the guy kind of fights to the level in front of him until he gets hurt then seems to have extra gears but there is no reason Barker should not give this a go, it tells the kid where he's at, defines where he goes next, either stay in the world circle or move back down and try and dominate Europe for a few years then have a final crack at the top.

Plaudits from me, Barker has some skills and lets see how they compare, do I think he wins? No. However, I find it a fascinating thought to see him in the ring with "Maravilla" so its a terrific
opportunity for the lad.

martinez really raised his game, since moving up to middleweight. don't underestimate this man. he faced williams at short notice having never planned to fight as amiddleweight, and almost won; beat pavlik, despite being much the smaller man and producing some brilliant boxing late; and his brilliant display vs difficult dzinziruk showed just how damn good he is. even vs guys you're supposed to look bad against, sergio shined vs. sergio also blew out williams 2nd time, and really he one punch KOd cintron, so this is dangerous for barker.

that said, barker's a good fighter and i won't rule out the londoner being competitive.

Autobarn wrote:

slapbangwhallop wrote:supposedly its Lee v Vera on the undercard and Lee turned the fight with Martinez down first. Wise move!

Barker is going to get slaughtered.

american television would never have gone with the irish audley harrison!

Agh diddums!! You sound very defensive.

Yesterday you said They wouldn't take the Barker fight so I am sure you will understand when I totally ignore the shite that comes into yer head.

You referred to this match up as 'suicidal' the other day, you were closer to the money then.

I'll enjoy watching this fight. Think Casey-Rigo, but wait remember what happen to Don Curry, yawn!!

Why not go for Chavez Jr? Martinez will be too much for Barker.

Josh1111 wrote:This is better, people already being more positive. Not many of us will expect Barker to win but we will all support the lad. Takes balls of steal to take a fight like this

You're mixing up analysis and support Josh mate — I'm sure most of us would love Darren to pull it off, it's just not very many at all think he can.

slapbangwhallop wrote:

Autobarn wrote:

slapbangwhallop wrote:supposedly its Lee v Vera on the undercard and Lee turned the fight with Martinez down first. Wise move!

Barker is going to get slaughtered.

american television would never have gone with the irish audley harrison!

Agh diddums!! You sound very defensive.

Yesterday you said They wouldn't take the Barker fight so I am sure you will understand when I totally ignore the shite that comes into yer head.

You referred to this match up as 'suicidal' the other day, you were closer to the money then.

I'll enjoy watching this fight. Think Casey-Rigo, but wait remember what happen to Don Curry, yawn!!

lee is like the irish audley. lots of hype, little substance if you watch him on a round by round basis. the late KO of mcewan, saving the day after doing little all night, not too far from audley-sprott. one punch saving his career and his delusional world title aspirations.

i wanted barker to get the shot, but felt that the american promoters and TV would not go with him, because of lack of recognition.

never said it was suicidal - this is another poster.

if barker is really going for martinez, then this leaves lee to gun for chavez jr, in the shadow realm of junior half champs.