When “Dazzling” Darren Barker 22-0(14) steps into the ring on the 30th April to meet Domenico Spada for the Vacant European Middleweight title it will be his first fight in a year. The 28 year old Londoner won the very same title last time out outpointing tough Frenchman Affif Belghecham before having a hip operation that keep him out for several months. Thankfully at the start of this year Barker was able to get back in the gym and train without any problems. He knows it wont be easy against Spada who has never been stopped in his 35 fights but believes this is the fight that can springboard him back out not only onto the European level but also ultimately the world scene where he hopes to campaign in the future. Barker is currently rated WBC 5, IBF 10 & WBO 14. Here’s what he had to say.
Hello Darren, welcome to 15rounds.com
Thanks for having me.
Anson Wainwright – You will return to action against Domenico Spada at the end of April. What can you tell us about this fight and what do you know of Spada?
Darren Barker – The fight itself is a massive fight, I haven’t fought in a year. He’s world ranked. As a fighter he’s a real tough, experienced guy, he knows his way around the ring. He’s been in there with top quality operators and it’ll be a real test for me.
Anson Wainwright – By fight time it will have been over a year since you last fought, can you tell us about the hip injury and how things are with you now?
Darren Barker – Yeah it’s fine. I had my left hip operated on which was stopping me from running for a couple of years and became a real problem, so I had the surgery. It’s better now than it’s ever been. I’m able to run now. It’s been fantastic. It wasn’t worth having a fight with a lower class opponent. We thought it best to get back in there and carry onwards and upwards towards this world title shot.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym and where will you base yourself for the Barker fight?
Darren Barker – My manager & trainer is Tony Sims and I’m promoted by Matchroom. It’s a gym in Hainault in Essex. It’s an amateur Boxing club in the evening. In the day it’s Tony Sims gym.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career? Also what was your final record?
Darren Barker – I started at Finchley Amateur Boxing club and I left there when I was about 15 and I moved to Repton Boxing club and when I won the NABC and on the back of that I boxed for England in early 2002 won my first Multi Nations for England and got picked for the Commonwealth games, I won gold in Manchester. I boxed in the World Championships, European Championship, so yeah I had a good amateur career. I’m not sure I must have had near a 100 amateur fights, I had about 80 club fights, with fighting for my country it must have been about 100. I wasn’t a very good junior, as a kid I was slow to mature.
Anson Wainwright – What current pros did you fight in your amateur days?
Darren Barker – Timothy Bradley, Andre Berto, Paul McCloskey, Andy Lee, Karoly Balzsay. There’s bundles. I beat Paul McCloskey in the Commonwealth games. Andre Berto I believe I won that, I was seven points up going into the last round and he beat me by two points. I’m still convinced I won that, but that’s Boxing.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years growing up in London and how it took you into Boxing?
Darren Barker – Well my route into Boxing was sort of typical, my dad was a boxer. Even though he never pushed me into it, It was just a natural thing. I wanted to make my mum and dad proud. I thought I’ll give it ago and it went on from there. I went to the Boxing club; I started to get quite good at it. I started setting my own goals and started to achieve them and went from there.
Anson Wainwright – When you’re not training for a fight what do you do with your time? What are your hobbies?
Darren Barker – Football! I’m a Chelsea fan (Soccer Club). I’m Football mad to be honest. I go to practically every home game. I’m a family man; I have a little daughter & a girlfriend Gemma. That takes up most of my time.
Anson Wainwright – What do you think of the current state of the Middleweight division?
Darren Barker – Yeah there’s some good prospects coming through and good contender already there. There’s fights to be made. It’s good to be around the division. There’s still some big domestic fights. The Middleweight division is in a good state and it’s good to be part of it.
Anson Wainwright – Last year you were scheduled to fight Matthew Macklin in September and had to pull out through Injury. It then looked like you two would meet this spring before he decided to go another way. Can you tell us your thoughts on the Macklin situation?
Darren Barker – I’m sick of talking about it to be honest. I’m gutted because I know full well I’d beat him, I’ve got his number. Who knows maybe these fights haven’t happened and we’ll fight for a world title. we’ll see we’ll leave a question mark over it. Just see how our careers progress.
Anson Wainwright – If it wasn’t for Boxing what would you be doing for a living?
Darren Barker – I dunno that’s a tough one. I don’t really know to be honest. I know I’m not good enough to play for Chelsea! Haha That’s in my wildest dreams. I really don’t know. Sport is my passion, something maybe involving sport. Whatever I put my mind to I’d of had a good go and succeeded at it.
Anson Wainwright – Who was your favourite fighter growing up?
Darren Barker – Mike Tyson. Even though I didn’t see a great deal of his fights live, I watched them back. As I got older Tony (Sims) introduced me to Sugar Ray Robinson, he was the best Pound for Pound fighter there ever was.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Middleweight division?
Darren Barker – Keep and eye out for me. At the end of the day I’m a young 28 years old, I’m enthusiastic, I’m hard working, I’m determined, I’m ambitious. I think with all those attributes and my Boxing abilities it puts me in good stead for the future.
Thanks for taking time to speak with us.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
Weekend Thoughts – It was again a weekend of shocks, first Andre Berto losing to Victor Ortiz & then Juanma Lopez being stopped by Orlando Salido. I didn’t see either coming I thought Berto would be too much for Ortiz, maybe now Ortiz will fulfil his undoubted potential. As for Berto it’s back to the drawing board. You almost get the feeling they waiting to long for one of the name guys at Welterweight and in the mean time feasted on the Freddy Hernandez of this world. I was equally stunned to see Juanma lose, it’s really disappointing that the Lopez-Gamboa fight didn’t happen, it’ll be even longer before we see those guys exchange leather now, if at all. You have to give Salido credit he went in to the lions den knowing he’d need a stoppage and he did just that. One look at Salido’s record and you knew it wasn’t going to be easy for Lopez but it’s still surprising. Rumours are spreading that Lopez had several personal problems going into the fight and he also blew up in weight. It’s also been mentioned they may fight sometime in the fall…I was in Manchester to see Amir Khan make the fourth defence of his WBA 140 title against Paul McCloskey. While won handily enough it wasn’t without controversy, first the doctor entered the ring when McCloskey was cut from a headbutt in the sixth, before the fight was quickly halted going to the cards. It wasn’t all sweetness and light afterwards at the press conference where things got pretty heated. I think it will be a while before Khan is seen fighting on British shores, which is a shame when you think around 17,000 turned up and helped create a fantastic atmostphere.
