Can Darren Barker Be Marvelous Against Maravilla?

By Tommy Allan On October 1st, Barnet’s Darren Barker will square off against Pound For Pound superstar Sergio Martinez at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Barker has come up the hard way in the sport winning British, Commonwealth and European title’s before getting his long awaited crack at a world title. Most are of the opinion that this should be a routine title defence for Martinez and at 16/1 on, the “smart money” will probably be bet on which round Maravilla will stop Barker in. I for one do not see this as a routine defence for Martinez. Barker was a world class Amateur who is technically very good, he moves well and he has power. In a conventional sense he is a better boxer than Martinez is fundamentally but obviously the brilliant Martinez’s style is very unconventional with his low hand’s and often leading with his left. When thinking of this fight I keep thinking back to Martinez fight with Kelly Pavlik where Pavlik untill he got cut had taken control of the fight with a basic 1-2 combination. Barker has a world class jab which will be the key to him having success in this fight. Martinez as great as he is has been out-boxed at time’s by fighter’s who have used basic boxing skill’s, namely Cintron and Pavlik at certain point’s in both those fight’s. If Barker can control the distance and get his jab working this fight is a lot more competitive than the bookmaker’s would have us believe. It is a tough task for “Dazzler” but it is not an impossible one. Nice post, i think Barker will have moments with his ability (like the other fighters you've mentioned) but he doesnt have enough to beat Sergio. I hope im wrong and i hope for Sergios sake that he hasnt taken Barker lightly, if hes mentally taken him lightly he will have cut corners so to speak in his training. this is the falklands all over again.

darren barker is a world class boxer but to be thrown in against martinez for his first elite fight is a tall ask by any means but he has the boxing skill to do it,how will he cope with it mentally will be the key in this fight imo,hes normally mentally strong but the odds are going to be heavily stacked against him.my thought of who is going to win-split decision but i dont know who to yet!

Control the distance? It'll be a miracle if Darren can GO the distance. Maravilla TKO in less than 6.