MARTINEZ VS. BARKER
Alright Doug,
Just wondered what your thoughts were on this fight at the weekend. I think Darren Barker is a useful operator and a pretty big middleweight — he won’t have been seen much in your part of the world — and I wouldn’t rule him out against a good few of The Ring top ten middleweights, but I hope he’s getting awfully well paid for this ‘cos every way you look at it he seems badly out of his depth with Sergio Martinez. He’s a good guy though so hopefully he will surprise everyone and at least be competitive for a good bit of the fight, and bring himself a few more nice paydays with a standout performance even in the likely defeat.
Big few weeks for a few Brits, I think Kell Brook will be too much for Rafal Jackiewicz and win a wide UD, and Nathan Cleverly will take Tony Bellew apart in an entertaining 4 or 5 rounds. Then both can go on to fight the top guys in their divisions where I’d like their chances against anyone.
Anyway, all the best for now. — Craig
I think Brook and Cleverly are the real deal, two British stars who can kick ass against the best in the world just like Amir Khan is doing now. I hope us Yanks get a chance to see them fight at least a few of the best in their respective divisions here in the U.S. I?d love to cover both standouts from ringside. Two of my future dream fights is a light heavyweight showdown between Cleverly and my man Ismayl Sillakh and a 147-pound tilt between Brook and Mike Jones.
Barker is more than a ?useful operator.? The 29-year-old Londoner is a very smart boxer and a modern-sized middleweight. He?s possesses sound fundamentals: good balance and footwork, sharp reflexes and timing, an educated jab, a solid hook to the body, a decent right hand, and even a little head movement. Your boy can fight. I can see him beating more than a few RING-rated contenders/beltholders, including Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Sebastian Sylvester and Sebastian Zbik. I think he could give the mag?s top three middleweights — Felix Strum, Daniel Geale and Matthew Macklin — a run for their money.
