By Terence Dooley
Darren Barker finished 2009 in style by clinically dissecting Danny Butler over seven-rounds in December. Barker, 27, has been quiet since then and many British fans have asked when and where ‘Dazzling’ will be in action as promoter Mick Hennessy’s lack of a TV deal starts to bite on his glittering stable of boxing talent.
“It looks like April sometime,” confirmed Barker when asked about his next assignment. “I’m just waiting for the date to be confirmed. Mick is trying to get Showtime coverage so we’ve got that exposure across the pond.”
However, the uncertainty over a TV deal, which has seen Carl Froch’s fight with Mikkel Kessler farmed out to the Primetime PPV channel, did not cause Barker to consider where his promotional future lay.
“Not at all, Mick is a top bloke, a boxing man first and foremost, and he is also a good businessman so I was sure that something would be sorted,” said the 21-0 (14) boxer. “There isn’t enough loyalty in all walks of life in this day and age but especially so in boxing – I’d like to show loyalty to Mick and he’s the only promoter I’m interested in working with. I know Mick as a friend and he brought me to where I am today and has made me British and Commonwealth champion, which is a dream come true. I think we are moving in the right direction.
“Three fights would be nice this year, one more than last year. You could maybe hope for more than that but if you are winning and progressing then three fights a year doesn’t seem too bad. Plus, I’m only young so have got a few years left!”
Barker had a brief sabbatical from the sport after the death of his brother Gary in 2006 but decided to return to boxing after a chat with his trainer, Tony Sims, and with the full backing of Hennessy, who guided Darren to the Commonwealth and British titles on his return to the ring. The Commonwealth Games gold medallist believes that he is now approaching his peak.
“At the level I’m at now you have to be a complete professional and have all the shots in your repertoire so I’m always practising and learning to perfect every shot in the book. I’m getting to that top level now so can’t be lacking in any regard. I’m becoming a rounded pro,” declared Barker.
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