Darren Barker v Simone Rotolo -SKY Sports Saturday Fight Night Thread

[Beanz]

Groves looks sharp but man is he hittable.

He is that, but he can bang and I think he was not too worried about his opponent. As he goes up in level it may find him out but he may finish better fighters earlier. Early days.

[IamInuit]

Groves looks sharp but man is he hittable.

He is that, but he can bang and I think he was not too worried about his opponent. As he goes up in level it may find him out but he may finish better fighters earlier. Early days.

True enough. He must have felt fairly safe in there leaning in with his face and flailing away. Real crisp combinations. Like to see him against say a Bika. I think he's ready for a gate keeper.


WAR BARKER!!!

[bzkfn]

Just hope Barker isn't looking past Rotolo. One Fight at a time. Will be interesting to catch Ryder who seems to be progressing well, Oiecheng,Purdy and Groves could be good too.

After that first round I'd have to say Barker isn't looking past Rotolo. Some devastating punches there.

[bzkfn]

Am I the only one who thinks Sky needs to sack Jim Watt? He is so negative about fighters, saying they're doing this wrong and that wrong and says what they should be doing, despite the fact what they are doing is working, and when they get the win he says how impressive it was and acts like he knew it was going to happen. I have never listened to a former boxer talk about the sport with so little knowledge. I can't believe he won a world title.

[Beanz]

Barker is a great judge of distance but he needs to remember his use his defence not rely on his chin ala Froch.

[Beanz]

Am I the only one who thinks Sky needs to sack Jim Watt? He is so negative about fighters, saying they're doing this wrong and that wrong and says what they should be doing, despite the fact what they are doing is working, and when they get the win he says how impressive it was and acts like he knew it was going to happen. I have never listened to a former boxer talk about the sport with so little knowledge. I can't believe he won a world title.

I think thats a little harsh. Plenty of praise from him tonight. I like him, maybe I am an old fart.:-P

[bzkfn]

If Barker creates some distance he can finish this.

[bzkfn]

Am I the only one who thinks Sky needs to sack Jim Watt? He is so negative about fighters, saying they're doing this wrong and that wrong and says what they should be doing, despite the fact what they are doing is working, and when they get the win he says how impressive it was and acts like he knew it was going to happen. I have never listened to a former boxer talk about the sport with so little knowledge. I can't believe he won a world title.

I think thats a little harsh. Plenty of praise from him tonight. I like him, maybe I am an old fart.:-P

For years mate, I've hated him. Watch when Sky do a show that HBO also covers. I've seen him give rounds away just to make his own scorecard tally with Lederman's just so they have a similar score at the end of a fight. He doesn't even trust his own judgement. Sky did right bringing in Barry McGuigan for a few fights. He knows what he is talking about.

I'm warming to Bob Mee. I miss Darkey though.

[Beanz]

Where is Ian Darke? Barker looked good again. Bring on Lee or Quillin.

[superheavyrhun]

Jim Watt seems okay to me most of the time, although he does sometimes read the fight quite differently to how I have things. I like the new Darren Barker - entertaining, aggressive and he knows now how good he is and I'd love to see him in with Andy Lee or Matthew Macklin.

In an aside, I'm amused by the name Wadi, which is the Egyptian word for river. Hope the punches are flowing.

[bzkfn]

Where is Ian Darke? Barker looked good again. Bring on Lee or Quillin.

Agreed. Barker looked excellent. Macklin couldn't lace his boots.

I'm not sure what has happened with Ian Darke, he does the odd abroad show for Sky but they've got Adam Smith doing that now and Mee covering the British shows.

Upon checking Wikipedia, he apparently has left Sky for ESPN.