Darren Barker

[Fenster]

That was a good fight.

Barker looked a bit weak and his defense was much poorer than of late. The Frenchman is a serious tough guy, he had Andy Lee under similar pressure late in their fight.

I still think Barker beats Macklin.

[Fenster]

It really is getting bad here. I've seen so many awful scorecards & stoppages in the last 6 months here, I'm actually getting numb to it. It was actually why I was glad to see a solid KO tonight just so there wasn't any bollocks on the cards (which in that case there thankfully wouldn't have been).

Agreed. I used to have a superior attitude about the fairness here but thats just silly now. It just seems the ref/judges are given the script before the fight and they'll stick to it come hell or high water. I don't think its corruption as such but rather that they only take in what the 'home' fighter is doing rather than seeing the two fighters as starting as equals. In a sense I think they expect fighter A to win and know he's supposed to win and thus it becomes self-fulfilling as they view the fight with these preconceived ideas in their head. Either that or i'm talking crap.

I think that's the best way to look at it. I used to think people were whinging when they went on about Eubank, Hatton/Tszyu etc, but in recent times the only decision that I can think of going against one of ours was Thaxton/Mezaache. I think it's actually worse in British title fights as well. Small got jobbed royally a couple of weeks ago in a fight that he fought better in than he did against McDonagh in his previous fight.

It really is getting to a situation where you need to stop someone. Also is it just me or do British judges score a ridiculously high number of even rounds.

Things really will be fucked if your previous performances have to be taken into account

I highly doubt the officiating has got worse. It's more likely that as you guys have got older, you have become more aware with the experience of watching more and more live boxing from around the world.

[Phil]

I really enjoyed this fight, the 118 score was crazy, even my Dad who doesn't know that much about boxing was pissed at that shit scoring. Don't think Barker will go that far judging by that performance, I think if the French guy could bang he'd have taken him out late on...

[Scrap]

Repton had 4 winners last night, 3 ex Fighters won and a Repton Coach. Got to be a 1st

[TheMacMagician]

This is prob a delayed post, but the 118 from last night was terrible, even a disgrace. No way. I thought Barker was very lucky to get the decision. He was getting caught way way too much. I have a feelig he'll struggle when he steps it up because he just doesn't have nearly enough power to put anyone off. Thats what happened last night, the fella just wouldn't stop coming too him and fire off. Macklin would beat Barker up easy.

[Master]

I do not, and never have rated Barker. He won just but was way too close.

[JazMerkin]

Agreed. I used to have a superior attitude about the fairness here but thats just silly now. It just seems the ref/judges are given the script before the fight and they'll stick to it come hell or high water. I don't think its corruption as such but rather that they only take in what the 'home' fighter is doing rather than seeing the two fighters as starting as equals. In a sense I think they expect fighter A to win and know he's supposed to win and thus it becomes self-fulfilling as they view the fight with these preconceived ideas in their head. Either that or i'm talking crap.

I think that's the best way to look at it. I used to think people were whinging when they went on about Eubank, Hatton/Tszyu etc, but in recent times the only decision that I can think of going against one of ours was Thaxton/Mezaache. I think it's actually worse in British title fights as well. Small got jobbed royally a couple of weeks ago in a fight that he fought better in than he did against McDonagh in his previous fight.

It really is getting to a situation where you need to stop someone. Also is it just me or do British judges score a ridiculously high number of even rounds.

Things really will be fucked if your previous performances have to be taken into account

I highly doubt the officiating has got worse. It's more likely that as you guys have got older, you have become more aware with the experience of watching more and more live boxing from around the world.

I actually forgot to finish that sentence lol. Basically I think Small fought a better fight against Webb than against McDonagh. The reason I feel he didn't get the decision was because Webb is deemed a more 'sellable' fighter. He was never getting the decision in the same way McDonagh wasn't in the previous fight, even if I think Small just edged that one.

I think the officiating has got worse over the last few years. Since about 2006, there's been steadily more dodgy decisions in fights in the UK. We're like the new Italy.

[Kirkland Laing]

I only saw the last few rounds of this one and it wasn't very dazzling from a Barker point of view. Can't see him ever doing anything at actual world level and I'd pick Macklin to beat him.

[Fenster]

I think that's the best way to look at it. I used to think people were whinging when they went on about Eubank, Hatton/Tszyu etc, but in recent times the only decision that I can think of going against one of ours was Thaxton/Mezaache. I think it's actually worse in British title fights as well. Small got jobbed royally a couple of weeks ago in a fight that he fought better in than he did against McDonagh in his previous fight.

It really is getting to a situation where you need to stop someone. Also is it just me or do British judges score a ridiculously high number of even rounds.

Things really will be fucked if your previous performances have to be taken into account

I highly doubt the officiating has got worse. It's more likely that as you guys have got older, you have become more aware with the experience of watching more and more live boxing from around the world.

I actually forgot to finish that sentence lol. Basically I think Small fought a better fight against Webb than against McDonagh. The reason I feel he didn't get the decision was because Webb is deemed a more 'sellable' fighter. He was never getting the decision in the same way McDonagh wasn't in the previous fight, even if I think Small just edged that one.

I think the officiating has got worse over the last few years. Since about 2006, there's been steadily more dodgy decisions in fights in the UK. We're like the new Italy.

It was a Hatton Promotions gig. Small is with Hatton. Webb with Maloney. That makes Small the house fighter, right?

So who exactly fixed it?

Small's own team wanted him to lose? Maloney influenced someone elses show?

[ryanman]

Things really will be fucked if your previous performances have to be taken into account

I highly doubt the officiating has got worse. It's more likely that as you guys have got older, you have become more aware with the experience of watching more and more live boxing from around the world.

I actually forgot to finish that sentence lol. Basically I think Small fought a better fight against Webb than against McDonagh. The reason I feel he didn't get the decision was because Webb is deemed a more 'sellable' fighter. He was never getting the decision in the same way McDonagh wasn't in the previous fight, even if I think Small just edged that one.

I think the officiating has got worse over the last few years. Since about 2006, there's been steadily more dodgy decisions in fights in the UK. We're like the new Italy.

It was a Hatton Promotions gig. Small is with Hatton. Webb with Maloney. That makes Small the house fighter, right?

So who exactly fixed it?

Small's own team wanted him to lose? Maloney influenced someone elses show?

Don't come on here and ruin a good point with facts Fenster. Its bloody not on.
Jaz's overall point remains valid though.

[Fenster]

I actually forgot to finish that sentence lol. Basically I think Small fought a better fight against Webb than against McDonagh. The reason I feel he didn't get the decision was because Webb is deemed a more 'sellable' fighter. He was never getting the decision in the same way McDonagh wasn't in the previous fight, even if I think Small just edged that one.

I think the officiating has got worse over the last few years. Since about 2006, there's been steadily more dodgy decisions in fights in the UK. We're like the new Italy.

It was a Hatton Promotions gig. Small is with Hatton. Webb with Maloney. That makes Small the house fighter, right?

So who exactly fixed it?

Small's own team wanted him to lose? Maloney influenced someone elses show?

Don't come on here and ruin a good point with facts Fenster. Its bloody not on.
Jaz's overall point remains valid though.

About the decline of officiating since 2006? Not sure about that, it really does require facts and evidence.

House fighters have always been favoured all over the world. I doubt one country is any worse than another.

In the UK you can't get a fair fight in Germany/Italy.. In America you can't get a fair fight outside America. I reckon most of it is just a silly prejudice passed down over the years, with the exception of isolated instances.

Anyone that loses a fight that others wont see can claim to be robbed/treated unfairly. These days we see EVERY fight. And just about every fight people are complaining about refs/judges wherever it takes place

[FTMatty]

I like the way Barker fights, but I get the feeling that a more classy fighter would have him tied in knots.
There were flourishes of real class in the first 4 rounds, but it tailed off drematically after that.

[JazMerkin]

Things really will be fucked if your previous performances have to be taken into account

I highly doubt the officiating has got worse. It's more likely that as you guys have got older, you have become more aware with the experience of watching more and more live boxing from around the world.

I actually forgot to finish that sentence lol. Basically I think Small fought a better fight against Webb than against McDonagh. The reason I feel he didn't get the decision was because Webb is deemed a more 'sellable' fighter. He was never getting the decision in the same way McDonagh wasn't in the previous fight, even if I think Small just edged that one.

I think the officiating has got worse over the last few years. Since about 2006, there's been steadily more dodgy decisions in fights in the UK. We're like the new Italy.

It was a Hatton Promotions gig. Small is with Hatton. Webb with Maloney. That makes Small the house fighter, right?

So who exactly fixed it?

Small's own team wanted him to lose? Maloney influenced someone elses show?

Exactly, Hatton obviously hasn't got onto this 'influencing' the judges lark