John, sit down and read this carefully ok? Nobody stops Sturm! at least not for years and years!!!..(and there were reasons for that, he gassed badly due to lack of fitness).certainly not Darren Barker. If anybody is getting stopped it's Darren. Geale came within one second of doing it with a body shot. Sturm has a track record of body shot kos...including his last fight and Hassine cheriffi a few years back. What makes you think Barker stops Sturm? Sturms superior jab, tighter defence, better power, strength and boxing brain all point to a Felix win here. Granted Barker does have a chance....getter mobility and versatility being his main assets, but overall Sturm is just a better fighter.
Darren and Hearn have said repeatedly that Felix is "perfect" for Darren. that's the word they both used ..."perfect"! Translated that means Hearn was too cheap to pay felix what was necessary to give Darren a home defence, and Darren is too stupid to see this, sorry to be blunt. They are wrong and will regret it.
There be a rematch-clause for the UK, if Sturm wins. Of course if he do so in dominant fashion, that might be dropped, like in Froch - Bute.
Felix Sturm has his own TV deal in Germany. When he fights, he does it in Germany and gets paid big bucks.
They have a rematch already more or less organised I think. Probably expecting to lose on points. If it's close enough to keep interest it's fine for Barker, two big paydays.
I just don't see the hype of Barker. I think Macklin takes him out within 4, and Murray batters him down the stretch.
I don't see the hype surrounding Macklin tbh. Other than a decent showing against an overrated sturm I don't see what the fuss is about. I genuinely believe that Barker outboxes Macklin easily if he sticks to his boxing. Murray, you might well have a point with. Think Murray beats macklin at his own game brutally.
I think Macklin just overpowers Darren, in all honesty. It would last 6 rounds. Murray, you may be onto something with. That'd be a ferocious war due to the needle that they already have.
Sturm overrated? 10 years at or near the top of the middleweight division and the only word that comes to mind for you is "overrated". If anyone is overrated it is barker and Murray IMO. The only yardstick that can be used to compare the British middles is Sturm. Two of them fought the same felix Sturm one after the other, Macklin and Murray. Macklin clearly beat Sturm and Murray clearly lost. ( yes I know what the scorecards said, I'm talking reality here) Barker is making a big mistake with Sturm, and he is in for a rude awakening. Sturm has that great jab, tight defence, great physical strength, great chin, toughness and is a very crafty ring general who knows precisely what to do to nick rounds in a close fight. This is not Geale we are talking about here. Geale doesn't set his work up with a crisp jab, geales punches are loose and not hard. Sturm will make Darren pay for every mistake and Darren makes plenty. When this fight was announced and ever since, lots of people have been falling over themselves confidently predicting that Barker will win, even win easily. But they can't point out any evidence to support their view, cos there isn't any.
Sturm will win this fight on points - he's a bit past his best but will have enough to get the correct decision in this one. No controversy
Hope not, he seems a good guy. Just needs to stay busy out there, keeping that jab going. The jab alone will keep Sturm covered up and waiting for his turn. Then work around the sides like Macklin and Murray did.