Martinez vs Barker is on! Atlantic City, NJ. Just 73 days to go...

oh no

 

Great coup by Eddie, but cashing his chips in this early doesnt seem like a smart promoter move. What next getting Kell Brook a pulse in the other corner ?

 

:happy

Great news.

If the opportunity is there you've got to take it.

You can wait all your life for a weak champion that's willing to fight you.... or you can put yourself in there and see what occurs.

I wonder, if Barker wins will Ian Darke change his ''biggest win in America since Lloyd Honeyghan vs Don Curry'' line :think

 

As much as I like Barker, he's in for the beating of lifetime in this one. I'd give him a good chance against Sturm, Geale and JCC Jr but Pirog and Martinez are both out of his league. Credit to him for takingon the best though.

 

Love the Barker but oooh ! ...great matchup and thinking about it if he loses then theres no disgrace to the CV and he can pick up and come again.... not sure hes 100% ready though ... Cmon Dazzling Darren bring that belt home !

 

Hopefully its not a career ending beating for Barker

 

I hope he pulls off a miracle, i take it the JCC Jr fight went to Manfredo then?

 

The best Barker can hope for is to not get stopped and just box and keep switched on for every second of every round and hope that his gameplan, training and boxing ability will keep him away from Martinez. But, I cannot see anything other than a stoppage loss for Barker probably in mid rounds - hope he gets paid well and manages to give it his best shot, so that he can get in the frame for other big fights after this....

 

bloody hell. Has Hearn seen a gap in the market or what??
Good look to Barker but sergio will eat him alive with the form hes in.....that said if Barker can produce a big performance there are plenty of big $$ fights for him. Barker Chavez jnr would be interesting

 

Can't see any way Barker can win this, but fair play to Hearn for pulling it off!

 

One thing waiting for a weak champion and another waiting until you are ready.

Supposedly Lee turned the Martinez fight down in preference to face Vera. A wise move in my opinion. Lee isn't ready for him but also Barker ain't either. He hasn't fought anyone as good as Vera and jumps straight in to a fight with Martinez, bananas!

It's not quite Casey-Rigo but not a million miles off.

 

If the oppurtunity arises then in my opinion it must be taken, otherwise whats the point!!

I dont think Barker has got much of a chance, but as stated before if he puts in a decent performance and loses then there will be more opportunites for him in the future.

I think the only way this goes wrong is if he takes a world class beating and gets KOd early doors, but i think this is a claculated risk and one worth taking from Matchroom and Barker.