When's this in for? Someone mentioned McDermott he's defending his English title against Danny Butler on Matt Hatton's undercard. Think the winner of that should get a crack.
I know Wayne got stopped last time out, but he's good operator and better than anything Barker has fought before. Nice potential scalp for Barker and the obvious target is to try and do it quicker than Macklin. For Elcock, he just has to let it all hang out, if he fails he'll retire I think.
Barker has a completley different style to macklin would be crazy for him to try and stop elcock in 2 rounds. barker will win but in the later rounds.
This is a backward step for Barker I think. Barring a complete shocker, he will win this pretty easily, but then has to be moved straight on..... looking at getting a shot at the European title within the next year, rather than beating a couple of area level fighters to win the belt outright. The loser of Macklin vs Pirog would be great next.... because the winner will most likely eye up Sylvester.
I would have expected Elcock to need a elim fight to get the shot. Barker has missed his boat with Macklin for the moment but could get himself into position to fight next year. I never seriously expected Macklin to get this far so Barker could do likewise.
Unbeaten Darren Barker looks to add the British middleweight title to the Commonwealth belt he already holds when he takes on Birmingham’s experienced Wayne Elcock for the vacant belt in Brentwood next month. Barker, 20-0 (13), crushed another Midlander in Dudley’s Darren McDermott last time out in May in defence of his Commonwealth crown (four rounds) and looks like one of our best prospects, a sharp, hardworking boxer-puncher - good at everything, as they say. Elcock will have something to say himself about that, despite coming off a three-round stoppage to fellow Brummie Matt Macklin, who went on to lift the European middleweight belt in the first round (and then vacated this British title). Elcock also holds a stoppage of that man McDermott but it was an inconclusive ‘cuts’ stoppage in the second round from a head clash (cough, cough). “Mad Dog” Wayne certainly has enough tricks, enough seasoning - and enough of a dig - to prove a threat to the 27-year-old Barker, in the early rounds at least. However, Wayne is pushing 36 and the former world title challenger (and former holder of this belt) is seemingly on the other side of the mountain and looking a bit ‘chinny’, if the Macklin display is any guide. He also got chinned by “King” Arthur Abraham in that challenge for the IBF middleweight title in Switzerland in December 2007 (five rounds), although Abraham is a monster type who can win fights with a busted jaw. Ultimately, Wayne is due a throwback display but “Dazzling” Darren, on home turf, on the rise, must be fancied to outwork his man and emerge as the victor in the later rounds.
barker ud this is not a backward step for barker at all , he hasnt fought anyone of note so far and when and if macklin gets his hands on him its going to be lights out
This is probably the best domestic fight that could be made for Barker after the Macklin fight fell through and I am glad that he has managed to land a decent fight. I expect him to outclass Elcock then knock him out fairly late on. After that though he really needs to start looking to step up to Euro level. As I think someone else said, he should look to maybe fight the winner of Macklin-Pirog. I'd love to see Macklin-Barker!!!