Darren Barker

[ryanman]

I fell asleep in the last few rounds of Barker fight. It was a decent fight (bit too decent from Barker's point of view). But what the hell happened? I swear I caught the last line of commentary and they said something like 'in the end he took it away from Barker'. Don't tell me he lost? I bloody hope not.

[skel1983]

He won mate ud over 12, I think he should fight either Macklin or Andy Lee next if possible I didnt see Lees last performance against the guy Barker beat tonight to compare anyone see it??

I like Barker would like to see his chin tested but one to watch but time to kick on now what is he 28/29?

[Lefty]

I never watched it but heard he won a UD.

[ryanman]

Thank fudge for that! Barker is one of my favourite fighters.
No I didn't see Andy Lee against this guy but Darke said that he had Lee in trouble towards the end.
I forgot his name so i'll just called him opponent. Opponent looked pretty decent, game and willing to trade. If he had a dig he would be pretty damn dangerous at european level i think. Anyway, hopefully its onwards and upwards for Barker now. Like you say Skel he needs to get on with it now.

[JazMerkin]

That was a great fight for the first 9 rounds until Barker decided to make Andre Dirrell look like Librado Andrade.

I thought he was very lucky in the end. I posted in another thread that Belghecham looked shit, which I had to delete. I've only seen him in this fight & against Lee & I think a bit of a fight against a Cameroonian guy in France. Both of those guys beat him pretty decisively, N'Dam N'Jikam had a complete shut out, Lee fight was a bit closer, but he probably only won 3 rounds. I thought he did enough for a draw tonight, the scoring was a joke.

I was rooting for Barker as a Londoner up until when he decided to just do a runner. Considering he looked seriously buzzed of Belghecham's shots, I reckon Macklin would blast him out.

[superheavyrhun]

Barker was trading and bossing the fight for the first half, seemed to be on top in an exciting fight, but he was shipping a few punches, and then started to get on his bike, and circling throwing pitter patter jabs that barely grazed the French fella, and I agreed with the commentators that he was lucky on the scorecards. I had him taking 1-6 & 12. The 118-110 scorecard was typically ludicrous for a European title fight.

He's a decent fighter, but I think his defensive flaws got exposed a little tonight, and he really does need to do more than put the earmuffs on and wait for the other guy to stop punching in terms of defense. The guys on Sky were talking about Macklin having vacated to fight Duddy, so I imagine the Andy Lee fight would be more likely for Barker. Barker's corner were probably the most confident people in the place of his victory, but I think they were watching a different fight.

[skel1983]

That was a great fight for the first 9 rounds until Barker decided to make Andre Dirrell look like Librado Andrade.

I thought he was very lucky in the end. I posted in another thread that Belghecham looked shit, which I had to delete. I've only seen him in this fight & against Lee & I think a bit of a fight against a Cameroonian guy in France. Both of those guys beat him pretty decisively, N'Dam N'Jikam had a complete shut out, Lee fight was a bit closer, but he probably only won 3 rounds. I thought he did enough for a draw tonight, the scoring was a joke.

I was rooting for Barker as a Londoner up until when he decided to just do a runner. Considering he looked seriously buzzed of Belghecham's shots, I reckon Macklin would blast him out.

Yes the 118-110 was a fucking joke, were getting worst than the Germans!!!

Barker was on the run a bit in the last couple, I thought the other bloke was not bad and given Barker has not fought that much recently I think he needed that fight unsure how a fight with Macklin goes.

[JazMerkin]

Barker was trading and bossing the fight for the first half, seemed to be on top in an exciting fight, but he was shipping a few punches, and then started to get on his bike, and circling throwing pitter patter jabs that barely grazed the French fella, and I agreed with the commentators that he was lucky on the scorecards. I had him taking 1-6 & 12. The 118-110 scorecard was typically ludicrous for a European title fight.

He's a decent fighter, but I think his defensive flaws got exposed a little tonight, and he really does need to do more than put the earmuffs on and wait for the other guy to stop punching in terms of defense. The guys on Sky were talking about Macklin having vacated to fight Duddy, so I imagine the Andy Lee fight would be more likely for Barker. Barker's corner were probably the most confident people in the place of his victory, but I think they were watching a different fight.

I didn't get that at all. Duddy is scheduled to fight Chavez Jr on June 26. I can't see him blowing off that payday to be battered to a one-sided UD by Macklin.

[ryanman]

I fell asleep in round 9 (I think). Up to the point I had Barker winning it but had dropped a couple of rounds and was getting caught too much. I was concerned to see his legs stiffen once or twice to a guy with just 4 KOs - that doesn't bode well. So he just ran away the last 3 rounds did he? Hmm, he should really be dominating this level of opponent if he has world title aspirations. I think he's pretty classy though, lovely crisp shots and good balance but when he was finished punching he just puts his guard up, stays in range and allowed Belghecham to just have a free combo back.

[JazMerkin]

Yes the 118-110 was a fucking joke, were getting worst than the Germans!!!

Barker was on the run a bit in the last couple, I thought the other bloke was not bad and given Barker has not fought that much recently I think he needed that fight unsure how a fight with Macklin goes.

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).

[ryanman]

Yes the 118-110 was a fucking joke, were getting worst than the Germans!!!

Barker was on the run a bit in the last couple, I thought the other bloke was not bad and given Barker has not fought that much recently I think he needed that fight unsure how a fight with Macklin goes.

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.

[JazMerkin]

Yes the 118-110 was a fucking joke, were getting worst than the Germans!!!

Barker was on the run a bit in the last couple, I thought the other bloke was not bad and given Barker has not fought that much recently I think he needed that fight unsure how a fight with Macklin goes.

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.

[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...