Great match-up! Both guys would be vulnerable to the other...Barkley's physicality and power against Trinidad's better precision and power. Felix has the better speed, Barkley would be able to take a punch better.... Jeez. Very hard to even put a prediction out for this one, Russell. I think I'll take a peak Iran Barkley by 8th round TKO in a war. I believe the fight would go into a toe to toe affair, and Barkley would wear down Trinidad.
Being the naturally larger of the two, I give Barkley a puncher's chance, but firmly feel that Felix should be favored in this match. His skills, athleticism and overall proven abilities against world class comp make him the more formidable of the two.. Could go the other way though..
Barkley is underrated. I see him taking some big punches from Tito early, then just pile-driving Felix to the floor kinda like he did Hearns. Tito doesn't get up...it is over in 4 rounds....and the crowd goes wild.
I sort of think of Barkley as a relative flash in the pan who just happened to have Hearns' number. Trininad would be no easy task, given his skill and power. However, because Iran is bigger and stronger, I give him an edge, albeit a slight one. Both would take their share of punishment, though.
oh man who doesnt like watching iran barkley, great hero felix trinidad is very effective even at middleweight. i would have to say that barkley would take the left hooks for at least 8 rounds (as said by dpw) and would throw enough winging half blocked shots to make trinidad supceptable to the his crude left hook. i could see trinidad constantly getting up and being stopped by his corner.
Very even fight imo but I think Tito is the more skilled and refined fighter and takes it. I don´t think there will be a KO but a few KDs. Tito MD Barkley
Tito's by far the more accomplished fighter, but Barkley's too physical I feel. Barkley on points after taking over from round 6 or 7. Nice matchup btw, Russell. Sometimes I think the place would grind to a halt without your threads. No disrespect to anyone intended, of course.
Barkley. Tko4 One thing about Barkley is how tall and big he is, for a middleweight. I think Trinidad was at his best when he had that size advantage and could catch guys coming in & use that size advantage. Barkley was by far the stronger of the 2 and I'm fairly certain he backs Trinidad up from the opening bell. I don't see tito being as effective that way & nobody had to tell Barkley to throw punches in there. Iran also had a sneaky left uppercut when he fought close and if Barkley gets on the inside, Trinidad is going to have a very difficult time getting the guy off==he needs his distance and comfort zone to be effective.
Hopkins showed that a real strong MW, can impose that strength on Tito, but it wasnt done without a top class gameplan, footwork, movement etc. The superior strength was used when the time was right. Normally, in this style of matchup, i would pick Trinidad quite quickly, his power should not be underestimated against any man imo, but i do think that Barkley can take a punch and is slightly underrated, and very very strong. But im taking Trinidad, i just cant get past the fact that regardless of his strong points here, Barkley is coming right into Tito, who patiently apllies the touch of death to guys with such a style, and is of the most accurate of power punchers. Tito imo.
Barkley had the size, power and strength to pull this off after losing some early rounds. Trinidad was a good fighter, but overrated.
I dont think Barkleys chin was that good Duran hurt him and knocked him down, Benn annilahted him and he got dropped by michael Olidgde, I think Tito has target practice with his left hook and wears Iran down to a mid round tko.
It would be a war, both men probably going down, but I like Trinidad's speed, precision, and overall better skill to trump Barkley's size and strength advantage. Trinidad, after being hurt several times himself, puts enough damage on Barkley to end it around the 9th. It would be an awesome fight though. Also, I wouldn't really say Barkley's chin was all that better than Joppy's, who was able to survive a 36 min. massacre at the hands of Hopkins, clearly faded take everything Jermain Taylor could throw, and recently while completely shot go 10 rounds with Lucian Bute at SMW.
THe best I've personally seen from Barkley was the Duran fight, you can't blame him for losing that fight, Duran was just superhuman that night. If that Barkley who both boxed and brawled effectively shows up, it would be a damn tough fight, but I'll give Trinidad a slight edge due to power, precision, and BArkley's willingness to trade punches. It could wind up going the other way though.
i think barkley had a tough hide and big heart without neccesarily the greatest chin. he had a very good chin, but at said, he was floored many times from guys like olajide and roberto duran at middleweight. his ability to absorb punishment kept him getting up and comming back. thats what i thought was amazing about barkley, he would keep getting up. olajide, simms and benn he was always getting back up. he would deffinetely need that trait (and a place that doesn't have the 3 knockdown rule) in effect.