Darren Barker

By Jamie Fairclough: When this fight was announced I have to admit I thought that it had all the makings of either a fight of the year candidate or a bore fest depending on if both fighters let loose as both are known to have a tendency to box their opponents rather than brawl. Darren Barker has shown a bit more of willingness to stand and trade as he did in the Daniel Geale fight, but usually he relies on footwork and movement to beat his opponents which is odd considering he does have reasonable punch power. Likewise, Felix Sturm has good power but usually favours a more defensive game plan which so nearly cost him against Matthew Macklin.

Despite both men having a usually defensive style I saw this one being more open as Sturm has seemed reinvigorated by people saying he is on the slide and past his best, and Barker in his first title defense I saw him wanting to make a statement and stopping Sturm. So naturally I was disappointed that injury intervened early on and robbed us of seeing how this one unfolded, it was even more of a shame considering Sturm came out firing beautiful left hand leads barker always did his best to respond but it was obvious that he wasn’t moving right and looked very stiff.

By Scott Gilfoid: After being stopped in the 2nd round last Saturday night in his loss to Felix Sturm (39-3-2, 18 KO’s) in Stuttgart, Germany, Britain’s Darren Barker (26-2, 16 KO’s) is thinking about possibly hanging up the gloves due to a hip injury he suffered in the fight. Barker doesn’t want to have to go through the hassle of surgery again given that he’s already gone that route before.

Having his hip operated on will likely shelf Barker a number of months, and that will make it difficult for him to be able to fight a rematch against Sturm by next Summer. Barker has a rematch clause in his contract with Sturm, but in order to use he would have to face him by next Summer.

By Allan Fox: Former IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker’s career may be over after he injured his left hip in getting stopped in the 2nd round by Felix Sturm (39-3-2, 18 KO’s) at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany. Barker’s trainer Tony Sims said after the fight that “He may never box again” due to the injury. Barker (26-2, 16 KO’s) is being taken to the hospital right now to have his injured left hip examined. It’s possible that it wasn’t a dislocation.

That’s something that a medical doctor would determine. However, it if is a dislocation, which would be Barker’s 2nd dislocated hip, then it’s going to take a lengthy amount of time to come back from it.

By Scott Gilfoid: Well, this was what I was afraid of tonight. IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker (26-2, 16 KO’s) came into Stuttgart, Germany and was blown out of the water in 2 rounds by Felix Sturm (39-3-2, 18 KO’s) in a total massacre at the Porsche Arena. The fight was stopped by referee Mark Nelson at 2:09 of the 2nd round.

Sturm hurt Barker with a right hand behind the ear and knocked him down twice in the 2nd round. Barker winked to his corner after the 2nd knockdown, as if to say ‘I’m okay.” However, Barker wasn’t okay and he continued to take heavy punishment until his corner mercifully threw in the white towel of surrender to save Barker from being badly hurt.

By Scott Gilfoid: IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker (26-1, 16 KO’s) expects to retire the 34-year-old Felix Sturm (38-3-2, 17 KO’s) this Saturday night. Barker feels that he’s going to give Sturm such a beating that he’ll choose retirement rather than continuing on with his 12-year pro career.

Barker’s goal of retiring Sturm could be difficult given that the fight will be taking place in Sturm’s home country at the Porsche Arena, in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Sturm is nearly invincible in Germany, and he’s only been beaten once there during his career in losing by a 12 round split decision to Daniel Geale last year in September.

By Scott Gilfoid: Former WBA World middleweight champion Felix Sturm (38-3-2, 17 KO’s) battles a cocky and some might say an overconfident IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker (26-1, 16 KO’s) this Saturday night at the Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Barker feels that there is no way on earth that he’ll lose to Sturm, but it’s hard see where Barker’s confidence is coming from because he’s not looked good when facing quality opposition such as Sergio Martinez and Daniel Geale. Barker does look good when facing the lesser fighters, which accounts for pretty much all of his previous fights when you exclude his battles with Martinez and Geale.