BoxRec

I think this would make a great fight, and would really help Barker get on top of domestic level, and then move onto a crack at an EU title? IMO I think Barker would win inside the distance.........
Barker is underrated and is the biggest prospect in British Boxing.....



Your views.........

I agree that Barker is a class act and probably our best under 20 fight prospect. Being a Black country(ish) bloke, personally I'm hoping that the Elcock-McDermott fight gets remade after the unfortunate end to the first un (anyone know how Darrens monstrous cut is healing?) with the winner of that fight taking on Barker.

Both Elcock and Barker are with Mick Hennesey, so the fight should be easily made if the promoter doesn't want to keep them apart (which I doubt). I wonder if Elcock (and his Brit title) was signed by Mick with Barker in mind?

From a selfish point of view I would like to see an all Birmingham derby between Elcock and Macklin ahead of Barker getting a shot, although that is not to say he doesnt deserve one; he is a class act and would start favourite for me over Elcock.

Still, lets see the Battle of Brum first!

Terry - I'm a midlander too, and much as i like Macklin, have to wonder what he has done to merit a shot. other than the valiant losing effort to Moore. I certainly don't count beating campas, furlian (sp?) or Cheka.

Barker on the other hand is commonwealth champion so there is a unfication element to add to Barker - Elcock.

i'd pick barker to outbox Elcock at this stage just as i'd pick him to outbox Paul Smith or (just, i think) McDermott (much as i love Macca)

Macklin is, with all the above said, the british middleweight i would give the best shot at beating Barker. tho it feels like higgledypiggledy logic now i have come out and said it. does that make sense?

I'd think nobody really wants much to do with Barker.

He's a class boxer, maybe lacking in pop.

But saying that, didn't he drop Bendall before he went on and fought Paul Smith in that debatable fight ?

G0mez,

Yeah Barker floored Bendall in the first round, and the fight was stopped in the 7th due to a huge cut to Bendalls eye caused by Barkers non stop work rate.......
IMO no one stands any real chance against Barker at domestic level, I think he'll go on to be EU champ, and then maybe even world champ depending if he improves his power just that little bit more............

DuranTheGreat wrote:G0mez,

Yeah Barker floored Bendall in the first round, and the fight was stopped in the 7th due to a huge cut to Bendalls eye caused by Barkers non stop work rate.......
IMO no one stands any real chance against Barker at domestic level, I think he'll go on to be EU champ, and then maybe even world champ depending if he improves his power just that little bit more............

He's grown a lot in stature of late. I think he was a Welter as an amateur and perhaps is still gaining some 'man strength' still.

And the loss of his bro can only spur him on further.

He's a classy boxer and he conducts himself very well.

I found his website: http://www.dazzlingdarrenbarker.com/

On the domestic scene I don't think there's anyone to compete with his skills. Elcock and - on the way up - Martin Murray are strong guys who can work the body. These would be interesting.

However, the chin must be a worry. He was down against 2 guys that were well below British title level.

I agree, the man strength doesn't appear to be quite there yet.

Vs Bendall, he was very good. However, the stoppage was weird, because wasn't the cut caused by a head clash? Barker has stunned Crampton & Sharpe, and was unable to finish either off.

I was hoping he would fight some of the good Commonwealth eligible foes.

G0mez wrote:

DuranTheGreat wrote:G0mez,

Yeah Barker floored Bendall in the first round, and the fight was stopped in the 7th due to a huge cut to Bendalls eye caused by Barkers non stop work rate.......
IMO no one stands any real chance against Barker at domestic level, I think he'll go on to be EU champ, and then maybe even world champ depending if he improves his power just that little bit more............

He's grown a lot in stature of late. I think he was a Welter as an amateur and perhaps is still gaining some 'man strength' still.

And the loss of his bro can only spur him on further.

He's a classy boxer and he conducts himself very well.

I found his website: http://www.dazzlingdarrenbarker.com/

I sat by him for the Thaxton v Stewart fight the night he made his comback, was surprised at how big he was. Think he would beat Elcock in a close one and would like to see him face McDermott as well. Not sure he is ready for the Sylvester's and Asikainen's though.

Duddy would be a great fight for him though as I think he'd outbox him fairly comfortably ;;-)

Lets see Elcock vs McDermott 2.

Barker should be next in line for a shot at the British. I can't think of more deserving candidate at middleweight. Depends what path Hennessy has planned for the pair of them. I should imagine Elcock wants a Lonsdale belt for keeps, so Mick might keep them apart, which would be a shame.

Being British champion and part of the same promotional stable, Elcock is the logical choice for Barker to face next. But with Hennessy having to fill 13 TV dates per season for ITV he may well choose to keep them apart so they can headline separate shows. Personally I don't think this would be a total disaster for Darren as there is plenty of other domestic opposition for him to get his teeth into. Paul Smith, Darren Mcdermott, Matthew Macklin or even Leicester's Kevin Concepcion would prove more then adequate tests for Barker. If it could be made maybe even John Duddy (I think he would be elligible for the Commonwealth title?). Style wise I think Darren is very similar to another great prospect Jamie Cox, albeit Barker boxes orthodox.

Roll on Darren Barker's next fight!

barker is a fantastic prospect, but questions still remain about his chin.he is a very sound technician but he is more likely to lose a fight to a banger than a stylist.

im not classing him as chinny in the khan way, but he has been hurt before when he should have stood head and shoulders above the opposition..
this could be down to 'focus'more than anything else.

The two knockdowns Barker has suffered during his career were both the same shot, namely a punch to the top side of his temple. This is the same shot that has troubled Amir Khan so much in his career, when landed it takes away the balance and scrambles the brain. The different between Barker and Khan, is that Barker shows good survival instincts and ring savvy when hurt.
Against Conroy McIntosh, Barker was alarmingly all over the place in the second round, but held and spoiled until his head cleared. After near disaster, he then took over the fight and systematically took McIntosh apart in seven rounds. People seem to forget in the fight before Barker, McIntosh had floored Paul Smith, but no-one ever accuses Smith of being chinny.
Against Paul Samuels, Barker was floored again, but anyone who saw that fight will know Barker recovered instantly and Samuels ended up lying flat on his back receiving oxygen.

Darren Barker; Future World Champion!!