Iran the Blade Barkley,,How good was he?

He was underrated in that he took on Van Horn and knocked him out in two. He had good power and was very strong and hard to beat. His weakness was that he was not hard to hit and if guys could take his punches and hang in there and punch sharp they could win.. I agree he might be underrated. He is a 3 time champ. Although Hearns made him 2 times champion just by fighting him twice.

 

He was my man back in the day; from the Bronx. Tough, tough guy. Demolished some very good boxers like Tommy Hearns.

 

imagine Julio Cesar Chavez JR ...but better . That’s Iran Barkley

 

Iran Barkley was a tough guy.
Barkley hit Duran with a left hook in the 8th that spun Duran around like a top.
Roberto "hands of stone" Duran also had a mandible made of stone.
Roberto stayed on his feet: going on to win a close decision, after knocking Iran down in the 11th round.
It was a great fight!

 

I think Barkley was much much better than Chavez Jr. He had a lot of heart and would take punches which Chavez never could.

 

Barkley was the type of fighter that would fit in during the decades of the 30's 40's 50's when some of the toughest middleweights in history prowled around that weight class, or , 60's through the early 80's warriors that sprang from Philadelphia.
Like most of those fighters from those decades or that city, he wasn't the most skilled as far as technique is concerned, but he brought with him heart, toughness, roughness, and a will to win regardless of what he had to go through.
When he fought Hearns in the 1st fight, Tommy was merciless up until the time he got caught and stopped, some of the shots Hearns landed, I thought could've killed Barkley, (Definitely kills Joe citizen) and he landed MANY of them.
Barkley weathered the storm, caught and stopped Hearns. Barkley fought all comers, and wanted the tough assignments. He didn't win them all, his limited skill set kept him from a win in many fights. But he was a Warrior, he would rather be carried away on his shield than surrender it.

 

He was also one of the meanest looking guys I’ve ever seen. I actually reckon he intimidated Hearns a little bit on the Arsenio Hall show prior to their rematch when they were engaging in some banter and Hearns was a pretty intimidating guy himself. Barkley was a guy I don’t think you’d want to mess with outside the ring. In fact I remember James Toney trash talking him prefight and saying how he’d fight him right there and then and Barkley responded by saying “You don’t know who you’re fukking with, I’ll stomp a hole in your chest right now”. Toney blew him a kiss in response but also stfu. Iran was a scary dude!

 

One thing interesting is Hearns and Barkley in the rematch fought a war which I think finished both Hearns and Barkley as top fighters. It was a brutal fight. Actually if you look at the end of round 12 Barkley was almost done. I think had that been a 15 round fight Hearns would have gotten a stoppage win. Barkley was swelled up and exhausted. Tommy was pacing himself more. Losing some rounds but pacing himself and picking his shots.

 

I loved watching Iran back in the 80 /90 s. Something about him was so unpredictable, if you know what I mean. The fight he had against Tommy, the first one, I don't think they gave Barkley a chance, then BANG. The rematch, most thought that this time around b different.
And Iran goes and out point s Hearns!!
But I miss his type of fighter, what you see with Iran, is what you get.

 

Barkley was a fantastic Fighter to watch. I think he was the first to beat Olajide who was making waves at the time, like a Boxing Michael Jackson. Barkley came in as a long outsider and smashed him.
Win or lose, Barkley gave absolutely everything.

 

Anybody who beats Tommy Hearns twice is and is a 3 division champ is a HOF in my book. No ATG but a HOF

 

Anybody besides me have The Blade beating Michael Nunn? He at the very least exposed him. Nunn put his track shoes on.

 

So you got a nasty mean looking dude. Pure slugger/brawler with excellent power. Tough chin, loved to hook. In his spare time he is a Gangmember from the Bronx. Let's give him a nickname...The Blade! That is Central Casting.

I remember late in his fight with James Toney. Barkley was in the corner and his eyes are both closing and he is busted up. Iran had been getting sliced up from the opening bell. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad asks Iran. 'can you see'? Barkley without hesitation says "I CAN SEE THE FUKIN PUNK!
He was mad. He was getting his butt whipped but in his mind 'I got him right where I want him. One good shot is all I need.'
Guys like Iran Barkley are the reason I became a boxing fan. He was genuine.

 

Didn't have him beating Nunn, but did a lot better than expected imo. He made Nunn very, very wary of getting his head knocked off!