Would Iran Barkley be champ today?

No, easy to hit, not enough skill and wide punches. Most good fighters beat Barkley

 

Yes, I think he could be champion.
A very under-rated fighter, some people will bend over backwards not to give him full credit for beating Thomas Hearns TWICE.

He also came very very close to beating Roberto Duran - and make no mistake, Duran was the best he'd been for years (since Davey Moore, IMO) in that fight.

Barkley was old school tough.
If guys like Taylor, Pavlik, Tarver hold titles nowadays, yes, you have to say Barkley could too.

 

he'd never be great but he would have beat the **** out of Taylor.

 

Barkley had no skills and was wide open. Very crude. If he fought Pavlik, it would resemble the Miranda fight. Pavlik would have too much skill and power. Abraham beats Barkley as well.

 

I think he's of a level with todays top middles although I'd favour Pavlik over him.

 

Pavlik and Abraham are as basic as it gets.

Barkley was no great technician either, but he did have a helluva punch, very good long jab, damn good chin and was huge and strong for a middle.

Pavlik might edge it out but imo his chin is clearly worse than Barkley's and he very well could get knocked out in a brawl.He gets as hurt as he was by taylor and he's done.

Miranda is a terrible fighter.More comparable to a Juan Roldan type than Barkley....except much worse.

 

I definitely think Barkley is one of the most under-rated fighters ever.
He fought loads of the top guys in a TOUGH era, if he wasn't such a good fighter he would've been reduced to a journeyman after facing two or three of those guys. Instead, he gets into the rankings the hard way, and wins major titles at 160 and 175 pounds.
The guy was a warrior. Even his 1st round defeat to Nigel Benn was a close fight !

 

You underrate Barkley. Go watch some fights.

 

I'd take Pavlik over Barkely in an 8 or 9 round barn burner, but Barkley beats Abraham and Sturm.

Boo

 

No way. He was too poor a fighter, even for today's middleweight mess. No chance at 168 either, same as at 175.

 

I have seen virtually all of Barkley's televised fights. His skill level was very low. Caveman approach. See his first round KO to Benn for what it would look like if he fought Pavlik.

 

I suppose Barkley could win a belt, but his inconsistency would prevent him from staying champ long.

 

Yes. Nigel Benn beat him in one round!!