Barker hoping for an upset

Barker hoping to cause upset

‘Dazzling’ Darren Barker will be hoping to cause an almighty upset as he looks to dethrone middleweight king Sergio Martinez at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Barker faces an uphill task as he takes on a boxer many pundits, and myself included, consider number 3 on the pound-for-pound (P4P) list.

This is a massive step up in class for the likeable Barker, who has conquered the British, Commonwealth and European divisions. One thing is for sure, you cannot fault Barker one bit for what he has achieved.

The real question is; does he have what it takes on the elite stage?

Sadly I can’t see Barker taking the south-paws ‘The Ring’ World Middleweight title.

I like Barker. He’s a very good boxer, very textbook with his style. He possess a good jab, a good straight right, good temperament and he seems like a really down to earth guy.

I just don’t think he has enough speed or power to trouble Martinez.

I will be rooting for ‘Dazzling’ Darren and really hope he puts in a fantastic performance, whatever the result. He’s had quite a hard time in his personal life but he’s done fantastically well to come back and to win the European title in his comeback fight was a brilliant achievement.

Hopefully he puts on a good enough performance to impress the American’s over there to earn himself some further chances.

But I’m afraid Barker will follow in the footsteps of Mathew Hatton, Ryan Rhodes and Brian Magee.

A ‘heroic failure’ sort of performance is on the cards tonight.

Sweet Science UK prediction

As much as I like Darren, I don’t see him having the required power or speed to really trouble a focused Martinez.

Martinez does like to fight with his hands quite low when he’s out of range and Barker will have to try to take advantage of that. His best bet is to stick that jab all night and use his good straight right whenever possible. Barker does posses a decent left hook too and he’ll have to use that to counter Martinez as he comes in.

But sadly I think Martinez has too much power and speed to defeat Barker.

Martinez also possesses that rare one punch KO power (just ask Paul Williams) and Barker will have to be aware because Martinez can hurt you with either hand, particularly the left.

If Barker doesn’t freeze early on the big American stage (ala Calzaghe-Hopkins/Jones Jnr and Froch-Taylor) then I can see him taking Martinez into the later rounds.

If Martinez is unfocused then Barker does have a chance but his lack of power will seriously hurt his chances.

Martinez to win by KO late on.

See the weigh in below:

All the best Darren. I, for one, hope you prove me wrong.

Barker gunning for Martinez

Darren Barker: Ambitious man

Darren Barker is an ambitious and confident man. Having his eyes set on middleweight king Sergio Martinez proves this.

Barker, who is attempting to recapture his European belt when he takes on Domenico Spada on April 30, believes he has what it takes to dethrone the man, who I believe, is the current pound-for-pound king.

Barker told Sky Sports:”I know some people might think I’m bonkers even saying his name in the same breath as mine, but I fancy I could cause a mad upset, I really do.

“He’s a class act, a top, top-level performer – but I’ve got a good knack with southpaws from my Repton days, and it’s got to end for him someday so why not to me?

I understand Barker is ambitious and wants to fight the best, which I really respect, especially in this day and age, but this is just a no-no for me. Barker is a fine domestic fighter but stepping up to fight someone like Martinez is going too far. Martinez is three or four levels above Barker and that is being kind.

I mean no disrespect to Barker in saying that either but Martinez is a phenomenal fighter. His one shot KO of Paul Williams proved that. People talk of Pacquiao and Mayweather as the number one’s in the mythical pound-for-pound rankings but to me Martinez is the number one boxer in the sport right now.

Of course is the fight was made it would be a great opportunity for Barker but one that I could only see end in defeat.

If I had any advice for Barker it would be to concentrate on winning back his European title and concentrate on getting into the top 10 and forget any talk of fighting Martinez.