Boxing Update: “Dazzling” Darren Barker Now Backed By Adidas

Matchroom Sport are delighted to announce that undefeated Middleweight champion Darren Barker has signed an endorsement deal with Adidas boxing.

Barker takes on Italian Domenico Spada for the vacant European belt on April 30 at London’s Olympia live on Sky Sports, and he will wear the iconic three stripes as he aims to claim the belt and take his winning run to 23 fights.

The 28 year-old recently joined Matchroom Sport and is targeting a World title shot by the end of 2011 and he is thrilled to be backed by the company who make the kit of his beloved Chelsea.

“It's an honour to represent a brand like Adidas and I'm buzzing about using their apparel and equipment for training and in my fight with Spada,” said Barker. “The fact that they are Chelsea’s kit makers made this even more of a dream move for me!”

“Darren is one of the UK's hottest properties right now and the association with Adidas will help propel his profile further as we push for major honours in 2011,” said Matchroom Sport’s managing director Eddie Hearn. “We are already in talks with several promoters about a World title shot this summer but all the focus right now is on Spada and taking the European crown.”

“We are delighted to be associated with Darren ahead of his European title shot,” said Andy Ross, general manager of Cimac, the official UK distributors of Adidas Boxing. “We don’t have a policy of signing fighters in the UK but when I got the call from Eddie and heard his exciting plans for Darren, we wanted to be a part of his quest to become World champion.”