(Photo credit: Robert Epstein – Gary Shaw Productions) By Jose Muradas: The Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, N.J. was host to a tremendous night of boxing in the 160 middleweight division. Australian Daniel Geale(29-1, 15 KO’s) put his IBF title on the line vs. Londoner Darren Barker(25-1,16 KO’s) Geale who won the IBF title from Sebastian Sylvester in May of 2011 has made four successful defenses of the the title which included a unification bout for the WBA/IBF titles against Germany’s Felix Strum. Geale lost WBA title for failing to fight mandatory challenger Gennady Golovkin. He fought fellow countryman Anthony Mundine (44-4,26KO’s) and avenged his only loss of his career.
Barker entered the fight coming off wins against Kerry Hope (18-5,1KO), Simone Rotolo (35-4,15KO’s), and a spirited performance against WBC middleweight champ Sergio Martinez back in 2011 which resulted in an 11th round knockout loss.