Joined
·
184 Posts
Barker faces the Italian middleweight champion for the IBF intercontinental belt
Live on sky sports
Live on sky sports
Darren Barker vs Simone Rotolo September 8th
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
Joined
·
12,455 Posts
Disappointing fight. Hearn pretty much admitted it is himself:
"Barker is going to be fighting Simone Rotolo, who lost to Sylvester a few years ago, but is a tough guy," said Hearn. "We spoke to Craig McEwan and the like, but we need to fight for a belt and Rotolo is ranked highly enough to fight for the IBF Intercontinental title [Rotolo is ranked at number 8 in the organisation's Intercontinental ratings].
"After making the Bellew and Miranda fight, we decided we didn't need to get Darren involved in a barnstormer because it would put pressure on him when he's fighting for the first time in nearly twelve-months and has just fought the best in the world [in Sergio Martinez]."
He added: "It is still a very competitive fight, so Darren has been working hard in the gym and with a new conditioning coach to really make a statement in this fight. It is difficult to match Darren because I want to give him a test, but don't want him to go life-and-death after so long out. People talk about the [Matthew] Macklin and [Martin] Murray fights, which they wanted to make for December, but that isn't the right time for Darren because he's been out for a year and needed this fight against a tough Italian to show what he's been working on."
Article Link - http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=55316#ixzz21WtNehRf
This is a legal waiver. By copying and using the material from this article, you agree to give full credit to BoxingScene.com or provide a link to the original article.
"Barker is going to be fighting Simone Rotolo, who lost to Sylvester a few years ago, but is a tough guy," said Hearn. "We spoke to Craig McEwan and the like, but we need to fight for a belt and Rotolo is ranked highly enough to fight for the IBF Intercontinental title [Rotolo is ranked at number 8 in the organisation's Intercontinental ratings].
"After making the Bellew and Miranda fight, we decided we didn't need to get Darren involved in a barnstormer because it would put pressure on him when he's fighting for the first time in nearly twelve-months and has just fought the best in the world [in Sergio Martinez]."
He added: "It is still a very competitive fight, so Darren has been working hard in the gym and with a new conditioning coach to really make a statement in this fight. It is difficult to match Darren because I want to give him a test, but don't want him to go life-and-death after so long out. People talk about the [Matthew] Macklin and [Martin] Murray fights, which they wanted to make for December, but that isn't the right time for Darren because he's been out for a year and needed this fight against a tough Italian to show what he's been working on."
Article Link - http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=55316#ixzz21WtNehRf
This is a legal waiver. By copying and using the material from this article, you agree to give full credit to BoxingScene.com or provide a link to the original article.
Joined
·
12,455 Posts
Proksa's fighting Golovkin over in the US.
I don't think that fight was ever lined up really. I think Hearn was only interested in making the Hope fight out of that matchup.
Joined
·
283 Posts
Joined
·
23,540 Posts
Decent tune up for Barker, Darren looks in the best shape of his life now he's got a strength and conditioning coach.
![]()
Joined
·
55 Posts
A good chief support bout but not impressive if it's the main event. I'm suprised that Sky have signed off on this when you consider the potential domestic middleweight match ups out there at the moment.
Just realised that it is part of the Bellew card. I still think of Bellew as a FW fighter. So does FW apparently.
Just realised that it is part of the Bellew card. I still think of Bellew as a FW fighter. So does FW apparently.
Joined
·
15,417 Posts
I felt Barker would take a warm up, I know some lads disagreed with me and felt the Dazzler should just go for it but i think this isn't a bad thing. He needs to get a feel for the ring again and get back into groove. Not a great fight but i feel happier with this then him fighting McEwan or Proska right off the bat.
Joined
·
14,804 Posts
Never knew Bellew was fighting Miranda, should be a good fight that. As for Barker I think that as long as he is out again by early next year then or preferably late this year then this is a decent fight for him to come back too.
Joined
·
14,804 Posts
On Boxrec they have Lee Purdy vs John Ryder scheduled for the undercard, surely that's a mistake?
Joined
·
23,540 Posts
Yeah, I noticed that, It's a mistake.
Joined
·
23,540 Posts
Hearn said he tried to make the Mcewan fight.
Joined
·
15,417 Posts
Yeah i'm glad it never went through, I think Barker would win but i'd prefer this fight and then target Geale in early 2013.
Joined
·
1,408 Posts
Not really an inspiring fight. A guy that's had 3 fights in 4 years, is 36 years old and lost to Sylvester and has been KO'd in 2 out of 3 losses. Doesn't sound great, does it?
I sort of see Hearn's logic that Barker's been inactive but they could have made this a really good bill. Now this is only propping up the much better Bellew/Miranda fight rather than making a great value card.
I sort of see Hearn's logic that Barker's been inactive but they could have made this a really good bill. Now this is only propping up the much better Bellew/Miranda fight rather than making a great value card.
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
