By By Brinsley Bailey: To say my generation has been blessed with British boxing talent may be an understatement as I have seen the likes of Calzaghe, Haye, Hatton, Khan and Froch all become highly successful fighters. The future also looks bright as a new group of British boxers have the potential to take the world title scene by storm. Fighters such as Kevin Mitchell, Nathan Cleverly and Kell Brook underline the talent British boxing ranks currently hold in abundance.

While I appreciate their ability and am convinced they will all hold world titles in the future, I consider Darren Barker(21-0, 14 KO’s) to be the crème de la crème of the present crop. Although ‘Dazzling’ Darren Barker is not yet a name synonymous with boxing greatness or recognition, I believe the current British and Commonwealth middleweight champion is the most promising prospect.

Looking at Barker’s attributes it is clear that in terms of physical ability he is not the strongest or quickest middleweight but technically he is sound. His punches are accurate and his jab has a menacing intent. Teddy Atlas often states “It all starts and ends with a jab” and for too long we have seen many boxers ignore this principle and simply flick out the jab with little substance or force behind it. However, Barker is well schooled in boxing fundamentals and tends to prise open his opponents defence with a precision jab before committing an attack. Furthermore I consider his right cross to be one of the best in Britain; although it does not carry tremendous ferocity, it is precise and it is often the punch to stop his opponents.

Although Barker has exceptional technical ability, I believe it is his ring intelligence that sets him apart from the majority of fighters. In the past we have seen many British boxers fight with their hearts rather than their heads. On the big occasion they ignore all that they have learned in the gym and fight instinctively rather than tactically, sadly Ricky Hatton is a prime example of this. However, what I have noticed with Barker is his commitment to stick to his strategy, fight in his own style and at his own pace. This doesn’t mean that he cannot adapt to different situations, such as fighting on the inside or on the back foot, but it shows that he doesn’t have to because of his ring awareness. Furthermore, I believe Barker’s most prized asset is his composure; as soon as Barker recognises he has his opponent troubled, he refuses to rush in and thus limit his punches. On the contrary, he relies on his training and tries to use the same technique that originally troubled his opponent. On numerous occasions I have heard commentators describe fighters as “smothering their own work” after a successful barrage, however, with Barker that is never the case because you can physically see him take a half step back and assess the situation in front of him before committing to another attack.

Although Barker’s resume has no real outstanding names, he is the undefeated British and Commonwealth champion which is no easy feat. However, if I were to highlight an uncertain aspect of Barker it would be his relatively untested chin. In July 2006 he was knocked down twice by Conroy McIntosh but went on successfully to win by TKO in round seven. While this shows his tremendous heart and is, what I consider to be a small blemish on an otherwise impressive résumé, I do question whether Barker could take punches at a higher championship level. Nevertheless, that is an issue that cannot be answered until later in his career when he takes on true, world class opponents.

Overall, I believe that Barker has the potential to be a British boxing great because he possesses the many attributes that a champion needs. Barker stated in the Daily Mail “I want to win, yes for the money but because I hate losing!” Obviously, he wants to be successful for financial benefit but also because he has the yearning to win and be a respected world champion. In addition, Barker is full of spirit and has a desire to achieve not only for his own sake but in remembrance of his brother Gary who sadly passed away in 2006. Consequently, Barker holds a dynamic mix of ambition and heart which combined with his boxing ability can make him a force to be reckoned with for many years to come. I believe Darren Barker will not only be a success but Britain’s next dazzling boxing star.