By Scott Gilfoid: #3 IBF, #13 WBO, Darren Barker (25-1, 16 KO’s) will be taking a huge step up in class next Saturday night on August 17th against IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale (29-1, 15 KO’s) at the Revel Resort, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
Barker’s been saying lately that he sees himself as a better fighter than Geale, and how he’s definitely going to beat him. Well, we’re going to get a chance to see if Barker can prove that he’s better in the ring, because Barker failed miserably when he stepped up the only time in his 9 year pro career when he faced Sergio Martinez.
It was an awful fight to watch, as Barker played it safe for 10 rounds, and then got blasted out by Martinez in the 11th. Barker had been a pro for 7 years, and had fought pretty much only domestic and Euro level opposition.
This was his big moment to show that he belonged at the top of the sport, and instead Barker played it safe and got stopped by Martinez. Since that loss, Barker has got back to the soft domestic/European level opposition for his last two fights in beating Kerry Hope and Simone Rotolo.
Beating them told us nothing about Barker, other than the fact that he can beat those types of opponents. With his fight on Saturday night against Geale, it doesn’t look good for Barker. He’s not done a thing to redeem himself from his loss to Sergio Martinez, and he hardly deserves a title shot based on his empty wins over Hope and Rotolo.
I think the outcome will be pretty much along the same lines as his loss to Martinez. I see Barker playing it safe, not taking any chances, and quickly falling behind in the fight. When Barker does try and open up with his offense late, I see him getting dropped on the canvas and quickly finished off by Geale after he gets back up.
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