This guy was KO'd by a punch to his guard that didn't even look that hard, and he went down like he was shot. Barker was also nearly stopped by a body shot from light-hitting Daniel Geale. This is the IBF champion?
Pure glass body, his heart might be little bit tougher, but far away from everything which would survive a fall out of 1 metre.
Disgraceful that it was a world title fight between him & Geale, the once prestigious IBF title being contested by two B level fighters. Golovkin KO's him in the 1st or 2nd round IMO
I was seriously considering creating a "Is Barker the worst MW champion ever?" thread before this fight with Sturm.
I think Barker, Murray, Macklin, Geale are on a similar level, world level but not top 10 as opposed to being the best in the division. They are a level below GGG and Martinez (although Martinez is fading so its hard to tell with him in 2014). Quillin is harder to place as he hasn't fought any of them. I'd say Strum was on the Geale/Macklin/Murray level as he had close matches with those but he stepped it up tonight and was motivated for the first time in a while. Also with the history as a long-reigning champion, now that he looks rejuvinated, I'd say the mw division looks something like: 1. GGG 2. Martinez 3. Strum/Quillin 4. Geale, Murray, Vera etc etc. Barker fought a bad fight tonight tactically. The hip didn't help but he was in trouble before that. I think he always looked a little fragile: he is injury prone but doesn't obviously have the best chin either. But the hate he is getting now is undeserved.
