Prime Barkley versus whatever version of JT you consider prime. Who wins? I'm thinking thinking Barkley mid to late after being stunned early. Maybe a fight that looks a heck of a lot like Taylor - Pavlik I.
Yeah, as soon as I hit submit, I realized the much better question was Pavlik - Barkley. I'm seven rounds into Barkley - Duran and have it 4-3 Blade. I really only see Taylor winning if he caught Iran cold and Benn'd him. He'd have gotten absolutely mauled at close range.
Barkley would be too much for Taylor from round 8 onwards and would most likely stop him. I could see the first 6 rounds being a classic though.
Barkley's peak performance was unfortunately a losing one. He never looked better before or after Duran. He would have taken taken Taylor apart after about 4 or 5 rounds once Taylor started losing confidence and/or getting winded. Barkley was too mean and too determined for any version of Taylor to cope with without falling apart from the inside out.
Be interested to se how everyone scores Diran-Barkley considering how **** the actual cards were. I scored it the other day. Quite conteoversial I reckon but I had it 114-113 Duran. Was it really THAT close. For me, Duran needed to win the championship rounds to get even, which he did. The kd sealed it. I might score it again as I l've binned the scrap pf paper I did my rounds on. Really that close? Durand right hand was a factor early on but I felt Barkley them bossed it (not overwhelmingly of course, still exciting and competitive) until the 10th round, where Duran's Herculean effort saw him through. Though I wouldn't argue with 114-113 Barkley.
I would give a slight edge to barkley! But everyone is selling JT a little short based on his fall from grace. Although I had a draw and Hops by a pt on my card in the 2 fights...This version of a hungry JT should be able to give iran a solid battle that would make both of them sweat for the score to be read!
