Felix Sturm

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.

By Scott Gilfoid: Having barely won his last fight against Daniel Geale last August by a 12 round split decision, IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker (26-1, 16 KO’s) expects to win handily in his first title defense against Felix Sturm (38-3-2, 17 KO’s) at the Porsche Arena, in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Barker, 31, will be the visiting fighter and he’ll be at a huge disadvantage if the fight does to the cards. He’s got to hope that he can get the strong-chinned Sturm out of there, because his chances of winning a decision are slim at best.

By Scott Gilfoid: IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker (26-1, 16 KO’s) will be making his first, and perhaps his last title defense on December 7th against former WBA 160 lb. champion Felix Sturm (38-3-2, 17 KO’s) at the Porsche Arena, in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

One of the questions that Barker’s British fans are asking is why did Barker’s promoter Eddie Hearn choose to have Barker defend his title in Sturm’s adopted country of Germany rather than the UK. It’s pretty simple. Sturm is a huge draw in Germany, and a fight between him and Barker will bring in a guaranteed huge gait over there.

Unfortunately, Barker isn’t a huge star in the UK, and it’s doubtful that a fight between Barker and Sturm would have many anywhere close to the same kind of money that it will in Germany.