Barker vs. Sturm is on!

[Russian Crushin]

He also got numerous decisions go his way as well let's not forget. Either way, it's a dumb move on Barker's part. He could easily set up a good money making defense, a domestic fight, then go on to bigger things. Sturm is nothing right now.

Sturm is as much a joke as Chavez. The guy basically lost his last 4 fights biggest fights. How he's a mando for a belt is beyond me

[mutharasha]

Barker via UD if the judges are fair....

[ИATAS]

Sturm is as much a joke as Chavez. The guy basically lost his last 4 fights biggest fights. How he's a mando for a belt is beyond me

This means the IBF is going to be held hostage for a couple years - Barker, Sturm, Soliman, Geale all passing it around I bet. Forget that belt man, it's gonna be worthless for a while

[Russian Crushin]

This means the IBF is going to be held hostage for a couple years - Barker, Sturm, Soliman, Geale all passing it around I bet. Forget that belt man, it's gonna be worthless for a while

And people are saying there's a rematch clause as well

[aaron.king]

It'll be fun to watch Barker take the fight to Sturm. I remember back in 2010, sitting in my computer chair watching Sturm jab Giovanni Lorenzo around on an ESPN3 feed. My feed kept lagging, and I'd scream at the screen, spraying half-eaten particles from the entire Domino's pizza and two liter of Sprite that I was munching on. My only comfort was waiting for my stream to pick up so I could watch the German fans cheer with frightening fervor every time Sturm landed his jab. If I recall correctly, Lorenzo threw about 14 punches that fight. In many ways, it was my lowest point. Anyway, WAR BARKER ...

[taansend]

If Barker is getting paid well - and I mean very well, which I am assuming is the case - then it's not a bad choice.

If he gets the decision then he's a hero for winning in Germany.

If he loses fair & square then he's been well compensated.

If he gets robbed then he'll get a load of coverage in the UK & a big money rematch or a big money bout against a UK fighter.

It's a win-win-win for him.

[DoktorSleepless]

Rematch clause I heard is supposed to be for Barker, not Sturm. That's good insurance if Barker gets robbed.

Barker fighting Sturm and then Murray is hardly what I call holding a belt hostage.

[Æthelstan]

Good news. Barker should be able to defeat the aging Sturm.

[bojangles1987]

Fighting Sturm in Germany? Check out the big balls on Darren Barker.

[bojangles1987]

This means the IBF is going to be held hostage for a couple years - Barker, Sturm, Soliman, Geale all passing it around I bet. Forget that belt man, it's gonna be worthless for a while

**** them. As long as Golovkin doesn't mess up against Stevens, the only fight that matters at middleweight is Martinez-Golovkin anyway. The other belts are mere trinkets.