British RBR - Barker v Bendall - Commonwealth Middleweight title

Evnin all,

Time to welcome you all to another episode of the melodrama that is Friday Fight Night in British Boxing. Tonight we see recent Commonwealth Champion Darren Barker make the first defence of his multi-coloured belt against Steven Bendall.

Barker (16-0, 10KOs) claimed the title with an impressive shutout over Ozzie Ben Crampton back in November, in his second fight back after a year's layoff. Barker was dominant against Crampton who boasted a fairly impressive record but failed to deliver on the night, and wasn't too testing for Barker in the end. Not a huge puncher, but Barker is a good boxer, and is probably in for the toughest challenge of his career tonight against Bendall.

Steven Bendall (28-3, 13KOs) is by far the more experienced of the pair, and will need to demonstrate more big-fight ability to step up to the plate than he has in the past. A former English and IBO and WBU Inter-Continental titlist, Bendall has challenged for British and European titles, but lost by KO in each of his defeat, although they were against quality opponents in Wayne Elcock, Sebatian Sylvester and Scott Dann. His southpaw style might cause some problems, but Barker will be the big favourite for this one.

Coverage starts at 9.30pm UK time, in around 90 minutes or so.

good stuff mate ;)

OK guys, the actions about to start over here, so eyes down, look in, and lets see if Barker can show the same form as he has in his last bout.

And also, thanks to the great addition of Saddo, all future RBR's will be archived onto my blog, and I might dig out a few of my favourites for the weeks without bouts.

OK guys....ringwalks. Bendall gets a fairly quiet reception, a few cheers and a few jeers. Barker looks pretty focussed going into it. Gets a far louder reception on the way in. Next up...its fight time.

Bendall roundly booed upon the announcing of his name, but Barker seems to have a huge fanbase in the crowd, and gets a great reception. Even some fit birds in the crowd!

Round 1:

Bendall comes out throwing, but not hitting the target with some jabs. Tehy trade in the ring, and a straight shot from Barker puts Bendall down straight away. Another straight right catches Bendall, who's shipping shots big time early on. He looks to come forward with straight shots, but takes two on the wy in. Bendall seems to be back together, a flash knockdown perhaps. Barker staying cool and not chasing too much. Bendall with some straight, jerky punches, but Barker with a nice uppercut inside. Nice left hook from Barker. They clinch, and Bendall throws a couple of hooks on the way out, but caught on the guard.

Great start for Barker.

10-8

Rhun look at the woman sitting behind Carl Froch she looks the spit of Peggy Mitchell off Eastenders, I thought it was her at first :D

Round 2:

Bendall's corner trying to keep his head focussed. Nice jab opener from Barker knocks back the head. Barker seems to have the match of Bendall, blocking shorts, the going to the body. Barker takes a hook to the body, then a couple more, but keeps his guard up and not knocked back too much as Bendall seems to be. Bendall is circling now, and looks a little jerky and forced. Jab and hook from Bendall. AS they clinch, Barker works well to the body. Barker takes a jab as he comes in with his own then a right to the body. Jab then duck from Barker, who is landing well, but getting caught a little more by Bendall this round. Barker lands a jab, but takes a straight left in return. Hrd stragight right from Barker.

Barker's round. 20-17

Nice fight just need Bendall to get to round 4 and then get knocked out for my prediction contest pick to be bang on :D

Round 3:

Barker starting well again, with a couple of good hard right hands coupled with accurate jabs. Flurry of shots from Bendall, two to the body, then thsoe looking higher only find the arms and guard. Barker returns more good shots, but Bendall becoming more active, forcing Barker to keep his guard up with body shots then switching upstairs, landing a decent uppercut. Barker totally unfazed however, the classy operator of these two, while Bendall is already preparing himself for a tough night. Big right again, and another from Barker, who seems to land at will when he comes forward, and Bendall reels on the ropes a little. Bendall with some straight shots, but easy defence for Barker. Nice uppercut from Barker.

Barker 30-26

Round 4:

Barker opens up with three good jabs. Bendall throwing but not making any impact again, whilst Barker's shots seem to make Bendall hurt every time. They clinch, and trade uppercuts on the inside. Bendall takes a body shot, and returns one lacking in the Barker venom. Bendall with a couple of right hooks to the body. Bendall ships another left hook, then a fine right hook. Barker is getting in and out well, landing shots, then backing out before he gets caught. Left hook from BArker as BEndall comes in. Bendall's courage isn't in question. Good straight right from Barker, then a flurry of hooks to the body then an uppercut, then they clinch until the bell.

Barker. 40-35

there goes my pick :(

Round 5:

Bendall lands a straight left, then a jab. Bendall takes a right hook. Barker doubles the jab, then zips out of range. Barker with his own flurry, pushing out straight shots as he did going into the later rounds in his last fight. Hope he isnt tiring already. Big right hook rocks Bendall back, and he's trapped on the ropes. Five or six hooks land before Bendall can tie Barker up. He clinches again, does well to survive there. Bendall comes out with a jab then a left to the body, but nothing behind them. Barker goes back to basics with some jabs.

Barker's again - 50-44

No way this goes 12 rounds, Bendall nearly got KNFO in that last round and it was only the ropes that saved him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by leftylee

No way this goes 12 rounds, Bendall nearly got KNFO in that last round and it was only the ropes that saved him.

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Innit, I reckon this is over by the 9th round.

Round 6:

Great straight right from Barker, but Bendall fires back ith his back on the ropes. Barker is good, but seems to be landing single shots until he hurts Bendall, then pouncing. Bendall jabs, then ducks a jab from Barker to clinch. Bendall with two hooks to the body. Good straight left from Bendall catches Barker moving into it, but Barker still unfazed. Bendall's best round so far, but Barker coming forward with a jab, then some good right hands before Bendall clinches. Bendall missing a fair bit, then Barker comes forward with a right then a jab. Bendall with a brief flurry on the bell.

Bendall's best round, maybe tied on this one.
60-54

Round 7:

Barker comes out with a little more intention, popping out the jab, but Bendall does land a jab as Barker comes in. Bendall working again , but Barker with a jab and a right. Bendall with a nice left, then a jab. Barker missing a little more in this round, and Bendall seems to be warming to this after a catatonic start. Bendall seems cut on the right eye, and the ref wants a look. Bendall with the jab, but takes two from Barker. Bendall's cut is bleeding a lot, but after a brief chance, the ref thinks its too bad and waves it off.

Unlucky that it came from a clash of heads, but Barker was dominating.

I win my preiction, VD loses his JOKER pick so everyone's happy ;D

Great rd by rd mate... give the guy some rep folks ;)

Good call from the ref :cool:

to be honest if Bendall's corner had have pulled him out after the 5th round i wouldn't have complained... he showed alot of heart though IMO :cool:

Darren Barker says: "I never overlooked Bendall, he's a quality opponent and was a stiff test. I'm learning all the time and getting better. Steve was coming back at me and was stopped on a cut, that's boxing. Everything in life is about learning all the time."

Barker seems to have done what was expected of him, but didn't risk too much in chasing Bendall after the knockdown. Not sure if it's tiredness or tactic, but Barker's work seems to become straighter as the rounds continue, it also did against Crompton. However, early in the fight Barker looked superb, though might need a few more fights before he starts looking at tougher challenges, such as British champ Elcock, or even one of the Irish boys like Lee and Duddy. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see him thrown in with someone like Howard Eastman or maybe even Jim Rock might fancy testing his skills against the youngster. However, an unlikely but mouthwatering fight would be to see him in against Paul Smith, in one of the best British divisions around at the moment.