The Scouting of Darren Barker.

This thread has demonstrated the best NSB has to offer. Opinions without name calling and trolling. (excluding the first post) I'm glad we can have conversation about a fighter like Darren Barker for 5 pages. Good stuff. Agreed!! We need all the other meatballs to follow suit and we will be good to go on this forum!!:boxing:

Rhodes is a better fighter than Barker and has been through numerous eliminators to earn his Top 10 slot at 154 and a shot at the world title. Barker hasn't done anything to earn his world title shot. OK. That makes sense.

In my opinion Darren Barker is the best British middleweight. He has very good boxing skills, slips punches, and can fire back with good combinations. That said, Martinez is a few levels above Barker at this point. If he had a little bit more power this fight would be a lot harder to call. However, he lacks any real pop which means he will probably struggle to keep Martinez off him during the middle rounds. I believe Martinez will start teeing off on the retreating and battle inexperienced Barker around the 9th round forcing the referee to jump in and stop the fight. Barker has enough guile to reach the championship rounds, but he will eventually tire, allowing Martinez to essentially do what he wants with him. Martinez T/KO 9th round.

Not sure about that. Why do you think so? Jamie Moore is about established as Spada. I'd say there on about the same level. But Canelo aint no Sergio. Canelo-Rhodes is a dead even fight IMO. Rhodes is a better fihgter than Barker and has been through numerous eliminators to earn his Top 10 slot at 154 and a shot at the world title. Barker hasn't done anything to earn his world title shot.

I think Martinez will beat any middlweight and light middle however he wants. I think he would destroy Barker but I do think Barker would beat ten shades of sh1t out of Chavez Jr :boxing:

He's not as good as Ryan Rhodes. Not sure about that. Why do you think so? Jamie Moore is about established as Spada. I'd say there on about the same level. But Canelo aint no Sergio. Canelo-Rhodes is a dead even fight IMO.

This thread has demonstrated the best NSB has to offer. Opinions without name calling and trolling. (excluding the first post) I'm glad we can have conversation about a fighter like Darren Barker for 5 pages. Good stuff.

Ive been following Barker much longer than Sergio so I see this from Barker's perspective. I think Sergio is too much too soon. He's barely fought anyone outside of Europe, and still needs to get his bearings.

I don't know what people expect, Martinez is the Paul Williams of 2 years ago - all risk, little reward. Fighting him doesn't pay a Pacquiao type purse so of course he's going to struggle to find an opponent when fighters like Pirog and Sturm aren't going to make much more against Martinez than they do already against bums in their own back yards. Barker is a top class european operator who could've become world class if it wasn't for the layoff. Now though he has just become another opponent but what can Martinez do when nobody else wants the fight, it's not like he's ducking anybody.

He's average across the board. You can tell he's more schooled than a lot of euro fighters, does things you only do if you been boxing a long time. But at the end of the day he just isn't physically gifted enough and doesn't do anything amazing that he can really lean on against a top level fighter. That's you see him in these videos having trouble against low level guys. Not enough firepower.

wow really? that's a pretty weak move by martinez after criticizing pac's previous opponents. Very weak. Let's not foret that Barker has only had a handful of fights above British level, then a lay off. And now only a single fight since then in which I don't believe he has even shaken off al the rust. During his lay off he was pretty much completely inactive even in terms of training. And as much as I have critisized Pac's last 3 opponents they are heaps and bounds more legit compared to fighting Darren Barker.

I think Barker beats Chavez. Rather easily. He wouldn't stay in front Chavez like Zbik.

Barker is a stand up guy and a nice person and I like him alot and he has also been through alot and I wish him well in his career. But he simply hasn't shown he is a fighter that can perform on a world level. And Martinez can not expect to get any credit for beating him. I would like to see Barker fight Macklin and hopefully that can happen down the line after Macklin-Sturm whether he wins or not. I would agree with what your saying..... Quite frankly this should have been handled with Barker fighting the winner of Sturm V Macklin to see who fights Martinez, although I would believe that if Sturm does handle his business with Macklin that he would and should feel entitled to a fight right away with Martinez. Martinez is in a tough spot, at his age he doesnt want to sit and wait around for big fights, but fighting these caliber of opponents in a lose lose situation and will do him no good in the long run. He wants to stay busy and thats very refreshing to see and hear for a top P4P fighter to want to fight 3 times a year, but taking on the likes of these types of opponents will only do him harm!

I actually think Barker beats Macklin. I would agree and that is very possible. I would also root for Barker in that fight. But, Macklin has proved atleast he is world level and has some solid wins on his resume to gain his Top 10 slot at 160. Barker simply hasn't as of yet.

Thats sad to hear...... My view is this, that everyone deserves a chance. This sport that we love sooo much is soo barbaric and brutal and the toll that these fighters unleash on there body day after day and training camp after training camp and fight after fight, these guys deserve a chance to make a big payday and an attempt to come to the US and make a name for themselves. I mean look at the fight Zbik had with Chaves Jr...I know he owned the WBC Title at the time, but does any1 not wanna give that kid another shot at fighting in the US after watching his performance a few weekends back.???? He had his oppurtunity and as far as Im concerned he cashed it in in a losing effort cuz as a fan I want to see him fight again on a televised boxing card. Barker is a stand up guy and a nice person and I like him alot and he has also been through alot and I wish him well in his career. But he simply hasn't shown he is a fighter that can perform on a world level. And Martinez can not expect to get any credit for beating him. I would like to see Barker fight Macklin and hopefully that can happen down the line after Macklin-Sturm whether he wins or not.

Barker looked rusty against Spada and that's understandable. And fighting Spada for your first fight back is admirable on his part because he could have easily chose an easier fight. But he simply isn't on the level of Martinez. I would understand if it was Matthew Macklin (hyperthetically, obviously) But Barker? I can not understand what Martinez is thinking. He gains nothing from this fight. I actually think Barker beats Macklin.

:lol1: :lol1: Not even remotely anywhere near that level. Even that version. I mean, atleast Margarito was a top level fighter before his lay off. wow really? that's a pretty weak move by martinez after criticizing pac's previous opponents.