Barker-Martinez: Darren sees Sergio as human and beatable

By Boxing News - 07/29/2011 - Comments

Image: Barker-Martinez: Darren sees Sergio as human and beatableBy William Mackay: Middleweight contender Darren Barker (23-0, 13 KO’s) is taking a huge step up in class on October 1st against World Boxing Council Diamond middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KO’s) at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

While Barker has been spending most of his entire seven year career toiling away at the domestic and European level, Martinez has been facing world class opposition for the past 10 years. The difference in experience between these two fighters is huge to say the least. However, Barker still sees Martinez as being human and having flaws that he can take advantage of on October 1st.

“I have never been so confident going into a fight,” Barker said to The Express. “I have looked at Martinez and he is a terrific fighter, but he has got two arms, two legs just like the rest of us and I know I will beat him…My time is now.”

The 29-year-old Barker’s opposition is lacking. He looked medicore in scraping by his last two B level opponents Affif Belghecham and Domenica Spada, beating both by close 12 round decisions. Barker captured the European Boxing Union (EBU) middleweight title in both fights, but it was disappointing that he couldn’t even dominate these 2nd tier fighters. That’s not a sign going into his fight with Martinez, because Barker showed that he doesn’t have much hand speed and his power is very average.

Barker couldn’t even dent the chins of these two Euro level fighters and now he’s moving up in class against a fighter that would likely totally destroy both Spada and Belgehcham without any problems. Barker is going to have to dig deep and find some talent that he’s not shown thus far if he wants to even be competitive against Martinez because he’s out of his league in this fight at least on paper.



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