Darren Barker will be beaten down by Felix Sturm on Saturday night.

Don't think that's true. He has the name, but reality tells a different story.
Most people in the RbR's had him winning close fights against Murray, Geale and Soliman and he got 1 Draw and 2 SD losses out of that. One overturned afterwards, but still.

Looks like in his case when it's close it goes to the other guy lately, so I expect a Barker SD win if he makes it the distance.

 

There is good money to be made on this fight. Sturm will win by SD. If it is remotely close it will be rigged for Sturm 100%, and lets face it, Barker is gonna go there and school him every round. It's likely to be close but this fight stinks of a robbery.

Sturm to win on points is 15/8.....great price.

 

Close fight , what worries me is that Geale had Barker down with a body shot, and Sturm is a very good body puncher.Still I hope Barker wins it.:good

 

Going to the cards for me hope Barker can nick it but obviously will be at a big disadvantage with it being in Germany.

Still it is one of the reasons he is getting very,very well paid for the fight life changing money in fact & don't forget there is a re match clause.

 

It was a great story Barker winning the title but for me Barker isn't a world class operator.
I mean Barker v Geale for a title fight....complete joke and shows the strength of the IBF. Been a joke division for that organisation for ages

 

I see barker outboxing the slow plodding Sturm all day but away from home Sturm gets the nod!! Foolish to underestimate Barker he give Martinez plenty of problems, will add Martinez would wipe his arse with Felix...

 

Would lioke to add all the people saying Barker isnt world class thats fair enough but Sturm isnt exactly Muhamed Ali

 

Agreed

 

FWIW here is my few cents worth:

Very interesting fight IMO. Nothing much in it on paper..but it wont be fought on paper.
I just hope all the "experts" who were so fast out of the traps to declare Barker the winner when the fight was announced will front up if he loses!

Reports of Sturms demise are greatly exaggerated. I don't believe Sturm is finished at all. A fit, motivated Sturm, even at 34, like the Sturm of his last fight this year or the Zbik fight in 2012, for example likely beats Darren all day. There is a big difference between coping with the sloppy disorganised flapping of Geale, who does'nt set up his work with a crisp jab, and the precision punching of a well prepared Sturm. And this is the Sturm we will be seeing from now on. At his age Sturn now realises that he can no longer show up smug, lazy and underprepared like against Geale, Soliman etc. and do the bare minimum to escape with a win. A lean, mean Sturm should get past Barker.

Bottom line: Sturms incredible jab, tight guard, size, strenght, toughness, granite chin and overall combination of guts and guile will prove too much for Barker.

A possible scenario is this - Sturm to start fast and put it on Barker right from the first bell. After 3-4 rounds Barker will have no choice except to give it his all and will claw his way back into the fight in the middle rounds. But after about the 9th I expect Felix to finish much the stronger for a decisive points win.

One caution - I Hope fair play applies here, Sturm isnt flavour of the month internationally, and Barker is a matchroom fighter.

 

the good thing for Barker is i heard he is guarrenteed the rematch in UK

 

This is gonna be a great fight , i am hoping Darren can knock him out cause there's a fair chance he might get robbed in Germany

 

And definitely not Muhammad Ali .:nono

 

No point in taking two hidings off the same guy though.....

 

Sturm has been on the decline for years, while Barker is getting better by the fight.

He will take a convincing win on points. Sturm has shown he can be out worked.

 

I think Sturm will probably edge out a close decision win, but if Barker is at his very best and has improved he just might win. Barker's problem is that he will have to win decisively.....................we will soon find out..............