In light of Macklin's poor performance last night. I'm wondering if more people favour Barker to beat him now. I think Macklin will still beat Barker should they fight. I do think that he has little chance against any of the champions with the exception of Sylvester (who he'd beat imo). Yes, it was a poor performance but if the Barker/Belgecham fight occured last night, everyone would be saying Macklin would murder him. I think there has been a bit of a knee jerk reaction to his performance.
I said Barker would beat him hen they were sue to meet in september, and I've seen nothing in his last two fights to suggest macklin can prove me wrong. He was in big trouble yesterday. If he has a similar performance against Darren, he will be knocked out
It's not like Barker's last performance was that great either. Both of them got hometown decisions, IMO.
This is a 50/50 fight and always was. I've said before Barker has more skill than Macklin, he's a better boxer when he wants to be. People read too much into that against Belgecham, he doesn't usually fight like that. Macklin/Barker would be a boxing match not a brawl. Barker is the better boxer, better jab, right hand, more speed. But Macklin is undoubtedly tougher and probably hits harder though he wasn't punching hard last night I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, in general he hits harder than Barker who is not a natural puncher. A lot depends on if Barker can get back to fitness and whether he really believes in himself. If he does he could win this.
i think andy lee shoukld be in this mix aswell , all three are way above there stations talking of world title fights imo
It looks like Lee is gonna get a world title fight so fights between him and Barker and Macklin look unlikely. The Macklin/Barker fight is one that could definitely happen which is why I made the poll.
Barker has never fought anyone of anyone quality. His roster is so weak, as it Barker. He has been dropped on a number of occasions by fighters with a lighter punch than Macklin and in my eyes lost the fight with Samuels. Macklin had a chest infection this week and his energy was drained, probably shouldnt even have been fighting, so I wouldnt read that much into the Varon fight. Macklin would stop Barker, a heavy stoppage in the first half of the scheduled fight.
For all the **** I've given Lee I rate him a bit ahead of these two. Not much, but a bit. He's more talented. Equally flawed in many ways but more talented.