Next move for the new IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker

Really groping in the dark there. :conf

Much is made - probably a bit too much - of natural super featherweight Jose Cotto stunning Canelo with a well-placed shot.

Even so, you have to look at that and wonder how Canelo will take a crisp accurate well-dug counter right hand from a strong natural middleweight like a Darren Barker who is just immense next to Jose Cotto. :think

Then again, it could be that 160lbs will fit him like a glove and he'll finally unlock his potential there, not only carrying up but improving his power (it's been known to happen, and especially where he is still very young) and just feeling more comfortable and fluid in general not having to hit the junior middle limit...though I don't think drain will be a valid excuse if he loses to Mayweather at 152.


Honestly I think of Canelo vs. Barker and what immediately comes to mind is them swapping knockdowns in the opening round and the RBR thread getting flooded excitedly with several pages' worth of emoticons and "OMG FOTY" posts at once.

 

I wouldn't mind a Union Jack circle jerk. Those all promise to be fun match-ups and I would prefer them all to Mora - and besides upsetting the already exposed Proksa he really hasn't done much lately to deserve it more than any of the Brits.

You may be right that he would be likeliest to cash himself out in a Golovkin unification. He would probably fancy his odds, too. "Punchers can't touch me! I'm the Latin Snake! :tong" - famous last words before getting turned into a pair of cowboy boots. :yep

Interesting thread. I'll go through and do each division in a single post, one by one. It's stimulating but time-consuming. :good

 

Good list. :thumbsup

Zero interest in Barker vs. Lee, or just not enough to make your top dozen?

I think it would be in mine, but looking now I can't think what to bump to make room for it...

 

After getting my first eyeful of Gilberto Ramirez Sanchez tonight, I'd like to drop his name in the hat among the couple dozen middleweights among whom some excellent match-ups could be made.

Barker vs. Sanchez would be fascinating. Barker has the edge in polish and high-level experience, but has only had mixed success with southpaws (defeated by Maravilla and struggling with Belghecham...but dominating Hope & Bendall...) and how often does he give up two inches of height? Both can move and jab very fluidly...

 

^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYIh4VBFFDo&feature=player_detailpage#t=2042

 

Through 83 votes:

1) Murray - 28%
2) Sturm - 25%
3) Golovkin - 12%
4) Martinez rematch - 8%
5) Quillin or Lee - 7% each
6) Geale rematch or Macklin - 5% each

...still, nobody wants Soliman. :!:

 

You could argue ranking him anywhere from #2 (depending on whether you think Martinez has declined enough for a rematch to go Barker's way) to #5.

 

The majority get their wish.

Sturm in Stuttgart on December 7th promoted by Sturm himself.