By Sean McDaniel: Former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KO’s) is reportedly set to face unbeaten Darren Barker (23-0, 14 KO’s) from the UK on October 1st. The news was just released from eastside boxing.

Both fight camps tweeted back and forth today, which resulted in this excellent fight being put together. Martinez had been hoping to get Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., now the WBC middleweight champ, or Miguel Cotto to fight him. However, neither Cotto or Chavez Jr. are currently interested in tangling with the hard hitting southpaw Martinez. But Barker, 29, was more than ready to take the fight. More information will be out later on this new related to contract terms and the venue.

Martinez recently defeated Sergiy Dzinziruk by an 8th round stoppage in March, while Barker defeated Domenica Spada in April to capture the vacant European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title. Barker has superb boxing skills and maybe even better than Cotto and Chavez Jr. in regards to talent.

Barker can punch as well box and is very, very hard to deal with because of his excellent jab and right hand. He’s still largely unknown, however, to U.S boxing fans but after he fights Martinez he will no doubt be on the minds of many fans. Win or lose, Barker is a class fighter and more than a handful for Martinez.

If Martinez doesn’t bring his “A” game against Barker, he’ll lose. Barker has a tough beard and can really take a shot. Martinez better have a plan B to call back on if he can’t dent Barker’s chin because he’ll box circles around Martinez and make him look bad if Martinez doesn’t have some other strategy to use to win.