Barker – Cadman on Witter – Corley boxing undercard

Tony Sims trained duo Darren Barker and Daniel Cadman both appear on the undercard of Junior Witter’s clash against American DeMarcus Corley for the prestigious WBC light welterweight title this Friday, (September 15th), at the historic Alexandra Palace.

Former stellar amateur Barker, from just down the road in Barnet, goes for his first honour as a professional. The popular 2002 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist meets former champion Hussain Osman for the Southern Area Middleweight Title.

“I’m over the moon that I’ve got my first title shot,” said the 24-year-old Barker. “I’m ready to kick some Southern Area arse. It’s a title I have always wanted.

“I remember when Spencer Oliver boxed Patrick Mullings for the Southern Area when I was just a kid. I was about 13 or 14. Spencer sometimes used the gym I was training at back then. After he won, (TKO 10), I got to go back in the dressing room with him and hold his belt. I thought to myself that I’d like one of them.

“I obviously realise now that it’s just the first step on the ladder, but its one I really want to take. I was due to fight an eliminator for the British earlier this year until my opponent pulled out, but I’m glad I am fighting for this until that happens.

“It’s what it’s all about; Southern Area before British, Commonwealth, European and then world titles. This is a great fight for me at this stage of my career. Osman is a tough cookie, I can learn a lot by fighting him and it will be good to get my first ten rounder under my belt.”

Cadman, meanwhile, makes a first appearance at middleweight. The 26-year-old believes he can re-ignite his career a division lower now that he is able to fully focus on his training.

“I have been able to take four weeks off to prepare for this fight with Tony,” explained the Waltham Abbey fighter, who is coming off back to back losses. “It’s the first time I haven’t had to work right through my training.

“A company called Hardware Computing Cleaning Services has sponsored me – it’s taken a weight of my mind. It’s the best thing that anyone could have done for me.

“In the past, I must have been the only professional boxer who didn’t go out for runs. It just wasn’t practical to get up at 4 or 5am and hit the streets when I had to work.

“Now I am able to do that every day and hit the gym at regular times. I am training properly and that means I can do my weight properly. I should never have been fighting at super middleweight in the past; I was always facing opponents a lot bigger than me.

“I feel like a different person at middleweight. I’m properly excited; I’m ready to rumble. Now it’s about showing them what I can do as opposed to leaving everyone thinking about what I am supposed to be able to do.”

The Hennessy Sports “World Honours’ event takes place at the Alexandra Palace on Friday 15th September. For further information please visit www.HennessySports.com. Tickets, priced £35, £60 and £125 are available from ticketmaster on 0870 060 1795.