Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez vs. Darren Barker Saturday October 1st

[armin]

Also while martinez didn't look his usual spectacular self, I think he looked far from bad. Its tough to look good against a fighter who's so focused on defense and I think martinez looked almost his usual self the last three rounds or so and after all he was able to get barker out of there. I hope emanuel doesn't put lee in there with martinez yet but seems like he wouldn't mind the fight

[Mars_ax]

Also while martinez didn't look his usual spectacular self, I think he looked far from bad. Its tough to look good against a fighter who's so focused on defense and I think martinez looked almost his usual self the last three rounds or so and after all he was able to get barker out of there. I hope emanuel doesn't put lee in there with martinez yet but seems like he wouldn't mind the fight

Barker was a hard nut to crack the way he was covering up, coming forward, and smothering Sergio's punches. All in all, I thought this was a good win for Martinez and it wasn't easy like a lot of us thought it would be.

I don't know WTF Manny is thinking, I believe Lee would get destroyed by Martinez, Andy better fight one of the other trinket holders if he wants to win a title or wait 'til Sergio turns 40.

[Matias64]

Barker was a hard nut to crack the way he was covering up, coming forward, and smothering Sergio's punches. All in all, I thought this was a good win for Martinez and it wasn't easy like a lot of us thought it would be.

Of course if you are determined to defend youself and don't take any serious risks you propably could reach even the last round in the ring with punchers like Martinez. But on the other hand we have to ask: why was Barker taking this fight? Was his aim to get "honourable UD12 defeat" and have some british "if only i've managed to shock him in xxxth round" talk in media later? Why did he travel to US facing Martinez without serious ambition to hurt Sergio and take to tittle? It reminds me about Clottey-Pacman fight. After that fight Clottey hardly get millions of new friends though he wasn't badly mauled by Manny Pacquaio because his tactic (no risks, just defending himself).

I wonder how many after 6 rounds were thinking that Barker would have had good chance to win the middleweight tittle. Hardly any even in UK.

[CFH]

Also while martinez didn't look his usual spectacular self, I think he looked far from bad. Its tough to look good against a fighter who's so focused on defense and I think martinez looked almost his usual self the last three rounds or so and after all he was able to get barker out of there. I hope emanuel doesn't put lee in there with martinez yet but seems like he wouldn't mind the fight

Barker was a hard nut to crack the way he was covering up, coming forward, and smothering Sergio's punches. All in all, I thought this was a good win for Martinez and it wasn't easy like a lot of us thought it would be.

I don't know WTF Manny is thinking, I believe Lee would get destroyed by Martinez, Andy better fight one of the other trinket holders if he wants to win a title or wait 'til Sergio turns 40.

I think Martinez stops Lee and his leaky defense 10 times out of 10. BUT, I would assume Manny feels that a good technical fighter with a great jab who is a natural middleweight might be able to out-box Martinez. I think he's wrong in this case, but I could see the logic behind that kind of thinking.

[Rantcatrat]

Also while martinez didn't look his usual spectacular self, I think he looked far from bad. Its tough to look good against a fighter who's so focused on defense and I think martinez looked almost his usual self the last three rounds or so and after all he was able to get barker out of there. I hope emanuel doesn't put lee in there with martinez yet but seems like he wouldn't mind the fight

Barker was a hard nut to crack the way he was covering up, coming forward, and smothering Sergio's punches. All in all, I thought this was a good win for Martinez and it wasn't easy like a lot of us thought it would be.

I don't know WTF Manny is thinking, I believe Lee would get destroyed by Martinez, Andy better fight one of the other trinket holders if he wants to win a title or wait 'til Sergio turns 40.

I think Martinez stops Lee and his leaky defense 10 times out of 10. BUT, I would assume Manny feels that a good technical fighter with a great jab who is a natural middleweight might be able to out-box Martinez. I think he's wrong in this case, but I could see the logic behind that kind of thinking.

Exactly. I agree with you completely. Thanks for your email yesterday too!!

[Matias64]

What Sergio Martinez was missing in that Barker-fight was what e.g Lucian Bute really has : horrific uppercut body punches when Barker was keeping his hands high to cover his head. The arsenal of Martinez punches is indeed limited.

What Darren Barker really needs is something more than european style "technic" boxing and steady defense. His jabs and hooks were too slow. But worst thing for him is he can't take hard punches at all. That's perhaps the reason for his style of defending. He ain't a killer.

[Beanz]

What Sergio Martinez was missing in that Barker-fight was what e.g Lucian Bute really has : horrific uppercut body punches when Barker was keeping his hands high to cover his head. The arsenal of Martinez punches is indeed limited.

What Darren Barker really needs is something more than european style "technic" boxing and steady defense. His jabs and hooks were too slow. But worst thing for him is he can't take hard punches at all. That's perhaps the reason for his style of defending. He ain't a killer.

No Barker aint a killer but his range of punches started to damage Martinez and the idea that holding your guard high is a european technic is somewhat bizarre. As for Lucian Bute having horrific uppercut body punches i think his own limitations will be exposed if he ever meets a truely world class super middleweight. Froch would finish him and even the ageing Glen Johnson may soon expose the flimsy house of cards on which his reputation is built.

[Rantcatrat]

What Sergio Martinez was missing in that Barker-fight was what e.g Lucian Bute really has : horrific uppercut body punches when Barker was keeping his hands high to cover his head. The arsenal of Martinez punches is indeed limited.

What Darren Barker really needs is something more than european style "technic" boxing and steady defense. His jabs and hooks were too slow. But worst thing for him is he can't take hard punches at all. That's perhaps the reason for his style of defending. He ain't a killer.

No Barker aint a killer but his range of punches started to damage Martinez and the idea that holding your guard high is a european technic is somewhat bizarre. As for Lucian Bute having horrific uppercut body punches i think his own limitations will be exposed if he ever meets a truely world class super middleweight. Froch would finish him and even the ageing Glen Johnson may soon expose the flimsy house of cards on which his reputation is built.

I agree that Johnson will be a test and looking forward to seeing how Bute reacts.

[CFH]

Also while martinez didn't look his usual spectacular self, I think he looked far from bad. Its tough to look good against a fighter who's so focused on defense and I think martinez looked almost his usual self the last three rounds or so and after all he was able to get barker out of there. I hope emanuel doesn't put lee in there with martinez yet but seems like he wouldn't mind the fight

Barker was a hard nut to crack the way he was covering up, coming forward, and smothering Sergio's punches. All in all, I thought this was a good win for Martinez and it wasn't easy like a lot of us thought it would be.

I don't know WTF Manny is thinking, I believe Lee would get destroyed by Martinez, Andy better fight one of the other trinket holders if he wants to win a title or wait 'til Sergio turns 40.

I think Martinez stops Lee and his leaky defense 10 times out of 10. BUT, I would assume Manny feels that a good technical fighter with a great jab who is a natural middleweight might be able to out-box Martinez. I think he's wrong in this case, but I could see the logic behind that kind of thinking.

Exactly. I agree with you completely. Thanks for your email yesterday too!!

No problem. Bookmark that site, it's great for finding links to all kinds of sporting events.