By Scott Gilfoid: #3 IBF, Darren Barker (25-1, 16 KO’s) thinks he’s improved since getting stopped in the 11th round by Sergio Martinez in October 2011. Barker has only fought twice since then, beating Kerry Hope and Simone Rotolo both by stoppages.
This month, Barker will be taking a step up a couple of levels from those guys to face IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale (29-1, 15 KO’s) on August 17th at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Barker, 31, sees himself winning this fight despite the fact that he’s not faced anyone of quality since Sergio whipped him.
Barker said to the express.co.uk “It has been a long time coming since I lost to Martinez, but I’m absolutely certain I’m a better boxer than then and I’ve seen enough of Geale to know I will beat him.”
I’ve seen enough of Geale to know that Barker is really up against it in this fight. Geale is a heck of a lot better than the last two guys that Barker has faced, and I’m surprised Barker is crowing about being a better fighter since the loss to Martinez. I mean, how can Barker honestly know whether he’s improved or not if all he’s been doing is fighting tune-up bouts?
Don’t you actually have to fight someone with a pulse to pronounce yourself as being improved? If all it takes is for a fighter pick out a couple of easy marks to beat and then says he’s improved, then that’s pretty sad.
I saw both of Barker’s last two fights, and he looked pretty much like the same guy that Martinez dominated and stopped. No improvement whatsoever. Barker is still easy to hit, still lacks major power, and still looked incredibly stiff with his movements. Barker almost looks like he’s going to break each time he moves, because he’s lacks flexibility with his body. He kind of reminds me of David Price a little.
Geale is just a far superior athlete than Barker. I’m not just talking about Geale being a better boxer than him, because that’s academic at this point. I’m talking about pure athleticism. Geale looks like a natural athlete, and that gives him a huge edge against the stiff moving, slightly awkward Barker.
I see Geale easily winning this fight by a lopsided 12 round decision. He may not KO Barker, because I expect Barker to play it safe like he did against Martinez, but he’ll dominate him none the less.
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