How good is Darren Barker?

It could just be a personal bias as he has done a lot of work for ITV? The individuals there maybe like him and believe him when he tells us he is that good. Perhaps the elevation of Macklin in recent months to potential world title contender has a lot to do with it as well when it was only a few months back when they were touted to face off against each other.

 

Maybe the guys decided to give Barker a send off, of sorts?

It's a shame that ITV have pulled out, Rosenthal gets a lot of stick but IMO he does a great job, better than Dave Darts by far.

McGuigan is variable, sometimes he is spot on, other times he seems vendetta driven almost...... but seems a good guy generally.

Don't go, ITV!

Hennessy has really blown it obviously, got a two year, 20-odd show deal with ITV, and but for the first six months or so of that deal has completely ****ed up. Fights not made, or made at the wrong time, just an epic fail.

All the other players are in bed with Sky, so unless someone comes up out of nowhere it seems we are back to one broadcaster :-(

 

Not good enough.

 

Yeah, I think they were showing support for Barker. Looking at the glass as half full, rather than half empty. That's fair enough, he's done good so far. Barker of all people probably deserves them helping him blow his trumpet, but I did notice a marked difference in what they were saying just one fight ago (quite reticent about any "world title" talk, then).
I dont begrudge them doing so with Barker though.

Generally though, I get tired of this cycle of "hype them up" and "tear them down". Eg. Tyson Fury is still on the "hype up", Audley Harrison's been hyped up and broken down like a yo-yo ........ fighters being spoken about in ways miles outside of their current standing. All the pundits get too involved in the hyperbolic statements - Bunce, McGuigan, all of them.

 

One thing from the ITV coverage was Butler backing towards the camera all the time. His shorts had the Hatton promotions logo. His backside blocked out any trace of the Hennessy banner hanging from the ceiling. .....No biggie, but it raised a smile.

 

its quite clear those on hear that rate barker are the ones that have a clue about the sport, and those that dont rate him just wanna see a tear up and have no idea about the sweet science.

Barker does all the basics extremly well, which you cannot say about even world class fighters. The things he does well are suttle and do not stand out, but he is a very effective fighter. That 1-2 combination is pure quality.

Sometimes you gotta look at it this way. If you watched Ricky Hatton, Gavin Rees, Enzo Macceranelli, Alex Arthur, Carl Froch, Junior Witter first 20 fights, and said they would be a world champion, people would of laughed. So to say Barker being a world champ is ludicrous is well............ludicrous

 

Look darren barker is decent boxer who does everything well but he has no outstanding qualitys that show us boxings fans that he can defeat anyone in the top 10.+ he looks like a light middle to me.

 

edit

 

i would like to see barker in with a banger, this idea of barker vs moore and the winner gets macklin sounds perfect to me! both sturm and sylvester are winnable fights for barker and macklin although it wouldnt suprise me if macklin gets iced by pirog early next year, but they can forget about pavlik.

anyone seen Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam fight? i hear this geezers pretty handy but needs to step up, could be a future opponent for barker.

 

A last someone who knows :good..... Barker a clasy operator who lands with very quick hands . Deceptive power as well . I rate him better than anyone at the moment in europe and fo me a future world title challenger .

 

Solid jab but occasionally drops the right when throwing it.

A bit of a headhunter. Could do with a bit of variety.

No lateral movement.

No head movement.

Doesn't possess explosive power.


Definitely needs to move up to the European level but as has been pointed out, the European level is world level at the moment, such is the state of the division.

Good luck to him.

 

I really rate Barker. Darren has alot of class and seems to be improving to a level where he can really go on and have some big fights. The level of competition is decent but right now he needs to step up to euro level while his performances are hot.

I wish him all the best.

 

I rate Barker I think the kid has bags of skill BUT looks a bit leaky defence wise?? His arms open right up after every combination like a matador after the bull runs through the red cape.. Besides that I really do rate him!! I don't think he has a chance with Macklin like but I think he'll pick up that European strap when Macklin vacates it.

 

"And most arrogant post of the day goes to........"

And if emulating Gavin Rees and Alex Arthur is the extent of Barkers ambitions then he may well fulfill them....

 

I like Super Darren Barker a lot. First saw him fight at Elephant an Castle som years back as a novice prot. Very good technical fighter as you would expect from someone with his amateur pedigree. He will defintely win the European title to go with his Britih title and has in my opinion a grea chance of becoming world champion. I don't wan o put pressure on him but I will say this that he is the best technical British born fighter operating today. People can talk about the likes of Cleverley and Khan but the young guys I am most impressed by Barker and John Murray.