Darren Barker vs Sergio Martinez Preview Video and thoughts

I like Barker but Sergio is gonna Dzinziruk him

 

I agree , think its going to be alot harder for Martinez than people think although I believe he will win possibly a very late stoppage

 

Sergio's gonna destroy this kid.

 

Martinez will win, but he'll need to take away Darren's confidence and break him down slowly. Barker is really well respected over here, he's been a sparring partner for the likes of Froch and Kessler. He's been around the top british boxers for years, since he was about 19/20.

He doesn't know how to lose which is always a good thing for a fighter, so Martinez will need to fight hard for 4/5 rounds, then his better class will take over the fight.

 

Tbh barker has suspect punch resistance and i can see him putting on a decent performance before getting taken out mid-rounds. Martinez TKO 5 or 6. I do hope im wrong though.

 

This is a great bout, real boxers no hype jobs, no bs, no drama, no compelling television, just two cats whose actions and reputations speak for themselves.

 

As usual, the typical American sentiment I've been reading for this match is along the lines of if you haven't heard of a fighter and they're from Europe (which many Americans seem to feel is a country), then they must fit under the nonsensical fight-fan term of "Eurobum". That then leads to calling this a "crap fight" and a joke and blah, blah, blah. Barker is talented. However, he may not necessarily be significantly better or worse as a middleweight challenge than very good 154-pound titlist Dzinziruk but I think he's quite solid and while many don't know Barker, I feel he's a fine opponent, although will likely be over-matched, as many assume, knowing Barker or not. But I think most of the Ring-ranked top ten guys would be over-matched against Martinez as well, so that doesn't lessen his credibility as an opponent, to me.

I think Barker is arguably as good as most of the Ring-ranked top ten and, on his day, he might take one over arguable number 2 MW's Sturm and Pirog. Good punch diversity, mixing them up, either side, head and body, very well. Respectable power, good speed, fair defense, nice movement. I've noticed him go stationary in spots, when someone goes to tee off on him, holding a high guard and waiting a flurry out, that way. Almost as if he's forgotten he's a good mover and has a better defensive tactic available to him than that, but I only have minor nitpicks of him, like that.

A very fine athlete, overall. Seemingly, a solid chin and a noble, but not reckless, fighting heart, based on what I've seen, of course. I've noticed a tendency to flag late and get a little ugly, at least recently. But, he's had setbacks that might have accounted for that in those fights. In other words, totally solid, not a huge hole in any major, basic aspect of his game or attributes that I can see. Nothing amazing, but no glaring faults either. Well-rounded. His experience level does not allow me to say how he should perform against a top notch, p4p elite, like Martinez. So, I must pick Martinez to win, suspecting without all that much trouble and likely by knockout, the way he's been letting them rip.

Barker is a fine fighter, but not spectacular, as his opponent has proven to be, and at a world class level. A win is pretty unlikely for him. If Barker wins though, I'll be happy for him. I like them both. If Barker performs well, makes some buzz, we might see him up for an ABC title soon after losing his shot at the real title. That'd be interesting. Lastly, Barker has not been a lucky man and he'd have had a shot at a title a while back without the set-backs he's experienced, I suspect. Maybe being a challenger is his ceiling, but he'd have at least had that achieved by now, I'm thinking. Let's hope for a good fight and the best man winning. :good

 

Really hope we eventually get to see Barker take on Macklin, never could pick between those two.

Barker has a once in a lifetime chance to become a star here, he doesn't even need to win, if he can push Martinez who is considered to be 3/4 on the P4P list, Barker can open alot of doors for himself, that's big motivation for anybody. Props to HBO for giving this fight some form of American exposure too.

 

Is anyone going to start a Martinez stretcher thread for this fight?

 

That's the most I've read about this fight so far. I'm an American who realizes Europe is not one country, but hasn't heard much or seen much of Barker.

I did, however, meet Martinez ringside after Ward/Abraham and can say he is a great guy, very friendly and outgoing. If boxing had more champions like him, it would be nice.

 

damn B.E. thats a great analysis:good

 

Spot on...

 

Cool , unbiased post, Respect!

 

:deal