Darren Barker to make his debut on ITV4 13 December!!

[scrap iron]

Darren Barker is going to be chief support for Froch v Pascal on 6 December in Nottingham following Wayne Elcock withdrawal. Great exposure for Darren, who this year will have boxed on three different networks (Sky Sports, the Fight Network and now ITV). His fight will be screened live by ITV and his opponent will be announced shortly....



Darren Barker will now be making his ITV debut on 13 December against Jason MacKay at the Brentwood Leisure Centre.

[Autobarn]

Good stuff. Always like to see Barker fight. But will he be fighting anyone good? Doesn't Macklin want a shot at the Commonwealth? Barker-Mackin would be a great salvage job, but I know - dream on.

[Poncey]

Good stuff. Always like to see Barker fight. But will he be fighting anyone good? Doesn't Macklin want a shot at the Commonwealth? Barker-Mackin would be a great salvage job, but I know - dream on.

Given Macklin's promoter it's surely unlikely.

[Dioufy]

Love watching Darren Fight - he's arguably one of my favourite domestic/international fighters.

[whiteboy]

won't they use Elcock's original opponent?

[whiskey]

Darren is out training with Froch and O'Donnell at the moment in Ireland.

Be good to see him have another run out against someone before McDermott.

[Counter-puncher]

Darren is out training with Froch and O'Donnell at the moment in Ireland.

Be good to see him have another run out against someone before McDermott.

agreed mate, Mcdermott- Barker is a really interesting fight. I'm a big fan of macca but think stylewise Barker may be all wrong for him. if i was designing a middleweight to beat Darren, he would look and fight a lot like Barker.

[THEBUTCH]

Barker-McDermott is the bout I've wanted to see for a long time and now one of them holds a decent title the money is there to make it happen.

Two of the fittest boxers in the middleweight division, it could/should be a blistering match.

[charlieb]

Darren is out training with Froch and O'Donnell at the moment in Ireland.

Be good to see him have another run out against someone before McDermott.

Spot the serial killer.

[TerribleTerry]

Barker is a class act - look forward to seeing him. Shame Wayne is out but it clears the way for the 'must see' Brummie clash of Elcock v Macklin.

Battle of the Birmingham City fans! Let 'ave it!

Zulu zulu zulu

[Counter-puncher]

Barker-McDermott is the bout I've wanted to see for a long time and now one of them holds a decent title the money is there to make it happen.

Two of the fittest boxers in the middleweight division, it could/should be a blistering match.

i'd rather see McDermott - Macklin (just about) but that would be nitpicking ;;-)

still an intriguing fight.

[salvador]

Barker is a class act - look forward to seeing him. Shame Wayne is out but it clears the way for the 'must see' Brummie clash of Elcock v Macklin.

Battle of the Birmingham City fans! Let 'ave it!

Zulu zulu zulu

My understanding is Wayne Elcock will defend his title in March against Matthew Macklin. He has to defend his title against Macklin by the end of March or the board will strip him. Expect either Sports Network or Hennessy Sports to win the purse bids on 10 December. Be a great fight for Frankie Gavin to make his debut.

[salvador]

Good stuff. Always like to see Barker fight. But will he be fighting anyone good? Doesn't Macklin want a shot at the Commonwealth? Barker-Mackin would be a great salvage job, but I know - dream on.

I think that is very unlikely given that Wayen Elcock will almost certainly defend his British title against Matthew Macklin in March. I think Darren McDermott is a more likely candidate given that his cut has completely healed and he is back in training, but would the Black Country Bodysnatcher want to take on Darren Barker on only three weeks notice? I think Jason MacKay would be the obvious choice, as he was already in training to appear on this bill against Elcock so it would be an easy match to make. Trouble is, despite his 20(6)-2 record, MacKay was badly exposed against Andy Lee this time last year so I don't know how much Barker would gain from beating him. Paul Smith is already lined up against Steve Bendall, Gary Lockett has retired so there isn't that many good opponents out there for Darren to meet at the moment. I suppose unbeaten Kevin Concepcion from Leicester is another possibility.

[Podmore_Birmingham]

Paul Smith is already lined up against Steve Bendall.

Smith will be free. The fight with Bendall was never taking place in December; Steve has been out of the gym injured for the last two months.

[salvador]

Paul Smith is already lined up against Steve Bendall.

Smith will be free. The fight with Bendall was never taking place in December; Steve has been out of the gym injured for the last two months.

That's interesting. I think Smith would be an ideal opponent as it's about time he fought for a title and it would answer a lot of questions surrounding Barker. Smith may be limited, but he's very physically strong.

[scrap iron]

Good stuff. Always like to see Barker fight. But will he be fighting anyone good? Doesn't Macklin want a shot at the Commonwealth? Barker-Mackin would be a great salvage job, but I know - dream on.

I think that is very unlikely given that Wayen Elcock will almost certainly defend his British title against Matthew Macklin in March. I think Darren McDermott is a more likely candidate given that his cut has completely healed and he is back in training, but would the Black Country Bodysnatcher want to take on Darren Barker on only three weeks notice? I think Jason MacKay would be the obvious choice, as he was already in training to appear on this bill against Elcock so it would be an easy match to make. Trouble is, despite his 20(6)-2 record, MacKay was badly exposed against Andy Lee this time last year so I don't know how much Barker would gain from beating him. Paul Smith is already lined up against Steve Bendall, Gary Lockett has retired so there isn't that many good opponents out there for Darren to meet at the moment. I suppose unbeaten Kevin Concepcion from Leicester is another possibility.

It won't be Kevin Concepcion, not after the way he got chinned last night....
DD DD

[Counter-puncher]

dear oh dear Concepcion's unbeaten record falls to a 3-4 career lightmiddleweight

[steve689]

Where does Elcock's original foe, Jason McKay, fit into all of this?

[scrap iron]

Where does Elcock's original foe, Jason McKay, fit into all of this?

Well the logical thing would be for Jason McKay to step and face Darren Barker. My understanding is a few opponents are being looked at for Darren, but with only three weeks to go there will be a limit on how many opponents would take the fight on less then three weeks notice. Jason McKay has had a solid eight weeks to prepare for the Froch v Pascal undercard, so he would be the obvious choice. Hopefully it will be a Darren McDermott or a Renan St Juste who will face Barker on 6 December, but I imagine McKay will probably get the call...

[Dioufy]

I am an absolutely massive Barker fan but if it is McKay then this needs to be his last fight before he steps up. He hammered Crampton to 120-108's all round, stopped Bendall (and had him down) and then whitewashed Sharpe (I had it 100-90). Those are decent tests but Barker is quite clearly a step above in terms of class. If he does fight McKay then I have no problem but he really needs to start moving - I hear an eliminator for the British belt against McDermott might happen which would be another decent fight. Surely then there's no point in not facing Elcock (if he beats Macklin like I think he will) - the fight would be easy to make as well with both fighters from the same promoter. I will be very disappointed if Barker isn't the British champion, or hasn't even fought for it this time next year.

Elcock v Barker in August 2009

[WildWaylon]

Looks like we are in for a great night and lets hope its a HUGE success on ITV.

[Maelstrom]

Dioufy - perhaps it will be Kofi Jantuah?

[Dioufy]

Fair enough, I think we have acknowledged that I got that one wrong and I have since said sorry for it.

[Counter-puncher]

is it that big a fascination tho teddy?

i mean come on its not like he is being hyped on here as much as Haye, for example.

or even Froch who hasn't got to world title level yet.

perhaps there is more focus on barker than (say) Macklin or Smith, but IMO thats warrented as he's that bit better than both of them potential-wise.

[Counter-puncher]

noone's saying he's going to be the next Minter tho are they? I don't think?