12/07, Darren Barker VS Felix Sturm

[BoxingSpecialist2]

I'm really looking forward to the Middleweight IBF title-fight taking place tomorrow from Stuttgart, Germany, featuring Champion Darren Barker against challenger Felix Sturm.

Darren Barker, 26-1 (16 KO) won the IBF title in his last fight, decisioning Daniel Geale on American TV (HBO). Barker fights with a lot of heart and has decent boxing ability. Barker has a good domestic backing and it seems like many of his English fans have travelled with him to Germany to support him. The English fans are known as being lively!

Felix Sturm, 38-3-2 (17 KO) is the former WBA Middleweight Champion who lost the belt by decision to Daniel Geale. Over the years, Sturm has been one of my favourite boxers and has become a well-known celebrity in Germany, transcending boxing (he regularly hangs out with German footballers Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil). His fights are very big in Germany and except for Art Abraham and the Klitschko Brothers, is probably the most famous current boxer in Germany.

Neither guy is the biggest power puncher, so I foresee the fight probably going the distance. It should be a competitive matchup and the winner has certainly proven himself as probably the #3 or #4 Middleweight in the world. Michael Buffer has made the trip up to Germany to announce the fight, as has Joe Calzaghe presumably to show support for his fellow UK boxer Darren Barker.

I'm a big supporter of both Sturm and Barker, so most of all I am hoping for a clean and fairly officiated fight. May the best man win!

 

[BoxingSpecialist2]

Here's some pics and video of the press conference and weigh-in which occurred a few hours ago;

[video=youtube;qiCJ4feyvk0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiCJ4feyvk0[/video]

Darren Barker looks very intense and looks like he's trying to physically intimidate or use some kind of scare tactics on Felix, lol. It's almost like an Andrew Golota-type staredown lol.

Should be a great fight!

 

[Charles Martel]

Good matchup. A few years ago, Sturm would have won, but he's slightly slower now, so it's a 50-50 fight.

 

[Charles Martel]

Wow, Felix Sturm seems to have been rejuvenated. He destroyed Barker in two rounds to win the IBF title.

[video=youtube;JSzVvj3S-JA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSzVvj3S-JA[/video]

 

[Westside]

Can't fault the ref on this. Barker's corner was a bit too quick with the towel. It seemed that Barker was getting back his legs and equilibrium back. He was fighting back. But congrats to Strum, those were excellent chopping right hands. I hope he gives Macklin a rematch. Remember 2 years ago, Mac was robbed of his decision against Strum.

 

[BoxingSpecialist2]

Excellent TKO win from Felix, has to be the sharpest I've seen Felix in years, probably since his TKO win over Ronald Hearns, or even back to his decision win over Sebastien Sylvester.

Felix was finding the range with his left hook early on, nailed Barker with one only about 10 seconds into the first round. Felix used his right hand well and scored some crushing right hands.

Darren Barker looked flat and slower than usual. For his part, Barker and his team have claimed a reoccurring hip injury as contributing to the loss. Maybe there is some truth in that and helps to explain why he was so badly stopped.

I wonder what's next for Sturm... This performance was downright impressive and rightfully puts him at #3 at middleweight. I'd love to see Sturm VS Quillin, and I think Felix has a good shot to win that fight (perhaps even by a large margin). Sturm VS Macklin or Sturm VS Geale would also be interesting rematches.

 

[BoxingSpecialist2]

Felix Sturm showing tremendous sportsmanship by offering Barker an immediate rematch (after Barker claimed a hip injury):

http://www.boxingscene.com/sturm-i-hope-barker-fine-we-rematch--72511

 

[Ambrose]

Felix Sturm showing tremendous sportsmanship by offering Barker an immediate rematch (after Barker claimed a hip injury):

http://www.boxingscene.com/sturm-i-hope-barker-fine-we-rematch--72511

Nice! That scumbag Froch could learn about sportsmanship from Sturm.