Looks like our very own Darren Barker could be facing Martinez on October 1st

[JazMerkin]

This will be brutal. Barker will get beaten down in a manner of unspeakable proportions if it happens. You don't struggle with the likes of Domenico Spada & Affif Belghecham & then beat one of best fighters in the world. If he does, this would imo be among the biggest upsets in the history of the sport, certainly by a Brit. The only one that would compare imo is Randy Turpin over Ray Robinson & that's only because of just how brilliant Sugar Ray was.

[littlebif]

Barker is a decent euro level fighter dont think he is good enough to make the step up to world level let alone Martinez, i think Barker gets broken down slowly and gets stopped in 8.

[Kev]

This will be brutal. Barker will get beaten down in a manner of unspeakable proportions if it happens. You don't struggle with the likes of Domenico Spada & Affif Belghecham & then beat one of best fighters in the world. If he does, this would imo be among the biggest upsets in the history of the sport, certainly by a Brit. The only one that would compare imo is Randy Turpin over Ray Robinson & that's only because of just how brilliant Sugar Ray was.

I can't believe people are comparing Sergio Martinez to Ray Robinson

It wouldn't be as big a win as that.

Honeyghan's win over Don Curry and Kirkland Laing's win over Duran are both bigger wins than this would be.

Martinez right now is easily the most overated fighter in the sport.

[JazMerkin]

This will be brutal. Barker will get beaten down in a manner of unspeakable proportions if it happens. You don't struggle with the likes of Domenico Spada & Affif Belghecham & then beat one of best fighters in the world. If he does, this would imo be among the biggest upsets in the history of the sport, certainly by a Brit. The only one that would compare imo is Randy Turpin over Ray Robinson & that's only because of just how brilliant Sugar Ray was.

I can't believe people are comparing Sergio Martinez to Ray Robinson

It wouldn't be as big a win as that.

Honeyghan's win over Don Curry and Kirkland Laing's win over Duran are both bigger wins than this would be.

Martinez right now is easily the most overated fighter in the sport.

Fuck's sake

In no way do I think Martinez is near Robinson, I think the gulf in class between him & Barker is equivalent to that between Turpin & Robinson. I consider Turpin quite some way better than Martinez so in no way is he compared to Robinson.

That said I'd consider this a bigger upset than Honeyghan. He'd convincingly beaten everyone in front of him & much better opp on the domestic & European scene. I believe he was ranked in the top 5 ww's in the world.

Laing is a decent shout, Duran was coming off a loss, but you'd have to think he was a similar heavy favourite. I overlooked that one.

I know you think Martinez is overrated, so do I to a point, but he's so much better than Barker.

[Kev]

This will be brutal. Barker will get beaten down in a manner of unspeakable proportions if it happens. You don't struggle with the likes of Domenico Spada & Affif Belghecham & then beat one of best fighters in the world. If he does, this would imo be among the biggest upsets in the history of the sport, certainly by a Brit. The only one that would compare imo is Randy Turpin over Ray Robinson & that's only because of just how brilliant Sugar Ray was.

I can't believe people are comparing Sergio Martinez to Ray Robinson

It wouldn't be as big a win as that.

Honeyghan's win over Don Curry and Kirkland Laing's win over Duran are both bigger wins than this would be.

Martinez right now is easily the most overated fighter in the sport.

Fuck's sake

In no way do I think Martinez is near Robinson, I think the gulf in class between him & Barker is equivalent to that between Turpin & Robinson. I consider Turpin quite some way better than Martinez so in no way is he compared to Robinson.

That said I'd consider this a bigger upset than Honeyghan. He'd convincingly beaten everyone in front of him & much better opp on the domestic & European scene. I believe he was ranked in the top 5 ww's in the world.

Laing is a decent shout, Duran was coming off a loss, but you'd have to think he was a similar heavy favourite. I overlooked that one.

I know you think Martinez is overrated, so do I to a point, but he's so much better than Barker.

Barker is undefeated, Martinez has lost twice. Martinez is the smaller man. He is by far the older man. Darren is dazzling.

I repeat, he has never lost a fight!

I see this fight going only one way...

[JazMerkin]

Barker is undefeated, Martinez has lost twice. Martinez is the smaller man. He is by far the older man. Darren is dazzling.

I repeat, he has never lost a fight!

I see this fight going only one way...

You're right. I've also overlooked his stunning first-round KOs of Paul Samuels & Ojay Abrahams. Martinez doesn't make out of the 2nd.

[boxingbantz]

According to the pair of them on twitter, the fight is on. Sergio is, literally, just walking into HBO with Lou DiBella to confirm it (picture posted).

RIP Darren Barker.

[MMASUX]

Yea looks like a done deal. From what they are saying no one else wanted to fight Sergio.

DiBella said he offered the fight to titleholders Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Daniel Geale as well as junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto, Andy Lee and Paul Williams for a rubber match.

Middleweight champ Sergio Martinez set to fight England's Darren Barker - ESPN