Darren Barker vs. Kerry Hope RBR

If this ends quickly (or even if it goes the distance) there is going to be a long gap. Kessler and Magee ring walks are definitely not happening until 5:45pm EST/10:45pm UK/11:45pm Central Europe. That's been confirmed by multiple sources.

 

Dazzling Darren Barker walks out in a much more conservative get-up, a velour robe of platinum and deep blue.

The crowd shows some love as he makes his way around the ring, bouncing his back off each set of ropes and waving to them.

 

2.5" height advantage for Barker, and some reach.

 

I don't know man, unless he can land some fluke shot to bust that eardrum open again you may be SOL.

Barker is more than his match in literally every single area.

 

"Barker wonderland" chant. atsch

 

Round 1

Barker slips the Hope right jab and digs in some left hooks to the body. Right hand by Barker while circling to the right. Hope waves his right glove around and stabs it in at Barker's stomach. Left upper-hook by Barker, tossed casually from below his chest. Nice 1-2 to the body by Barker. Hope misses a right hook upstairs and a sweeping left down below as Barker turns, using minimal unhurried movement to slip shots, just on the ball in terms of timing. Barker looks incredibly relaxed. Hope by contrast is a bundle of nerves, popping right jabs at nothing. Barker casually strolls to his right and counters with a left jab. Hope misses several more thrusts at Barker's body from outside.

10-9 Barker

 

This is going to invite a shitstorm from the Poles, but it's nothing I haven't said before:

Barker > Proksa, h2h.

(and that's the motivated version of Proksa from the rematch, let alone the lackadaiscal version that looked past Hope and wasn't able to cope with being cut)

 

It's called exterior boxing.

 

Round 2

Barker is ducking and letting Hope throw jabs over his head. Barker waits with a right uppercut and lets Hope jump through the trap door. Overhand right by Barker. Hope moves forward, turning his chin to stay off the Barker left jab. Hope ducks and carries his left glove tucked up under his chin. A bit of spinning and back-slapping. Triple jab flicked lightly to the face by Barker, and a right poke to the body. Left upper-hook and a right hand by Barker moving forward, slipped as Hope leans back.

10-9 Barker

20-18 Barker