http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/darren_barker/73902 Recent articles about Darren Barker en-us Two of the middleweight division's best and most exciting fighters will met as IBF champion Daniel Geale (29-1, 15 KOs) has signed on to defend his title against highly regarded contender Darren Barker (25-1, 16 KO's). The 12-round championship bout will take place at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York on August 17, 2013, and the event will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark. Credit: DBE Geale is fresh off of his redemption win over Anthony Mundine in their January rematch, while Barker has won 2 in a row since his KO loss in what was a very spirited effort against Sergio Martinez. Geale acknowledges that Barker is a tough challenge, but is quick to remind everyone that he has been matched tough for the past few fights in a row. This will be the first time the Australian superstar has fought on American soil. "Barker has to be one of the toughest opponents I've faced on paper, but I've been in the ring with world titlists and it remains to... Sun, 19 May 2013 00:12:36 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/daniel_geale_vs_darren_barker_set_for_august_17_at_turning_stone_in_hbo_televised_bout/13647901 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/daniel_geale_vs_darren_barker_set_for_august_17_at_turning_stone_in_hbo_televised_bout/13647901 Daniel Geale vs. Darren Barker set for August 17 at Turning Stone in HBO-televised bout http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/daniel_geale_vs_darren_barker_set_for_august_17_at_turning_stone_in_hbo_televised_bout/13647901 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/4/5426a896deb5086c06cd332b2fb421420d0dc2f2/mini/Darren_Barker_v_384a.jpg The middleweight champion of the world is back. It is both a glad and potentially dangerous occasion, the return Saturday of Sergio Martinez not only to the ring, not only to HBO, but to his native Argentina, where he's become an athlete worthy of presidential hobnobbing. Martinez is resuming his reign coming off the richest win of his career, a resounding decision win over popular Mexican brawler, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., and will be celebrated by approximately 40-50,000 Argentines live in Buenos Aires. But the Chavez win was a win that, while it enriched him, came with a cost: a badly injured knee resulting from the final round charge of Chavez, one that required surgery. Reconstructed knees are not kind to 38-year-old late starters who depend upon a special brand of speed and gymnastics, the way Martinez does. Enter Martin Murray, a top-10 middleweight with similarities to two fellow U.K. 160-pounders who have given Martinez more trouble than some expected, Darren Barker ... Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:30:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_knee_bones_connected_to_the_sergio_martinez_vs_martin_murray_preview_and_prediction/13487941 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_knee_bones_connected_to_the_sergio_martinez_vs_martin_murray_preview_and_prediction/13487941 The Knee Bone's Connected To The: Sergio Martinez Vs. Martin Murray Preview And Prediction http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/the_knee_bones_connected_to_the_sergio_martinez_vs_martin_murray_preview_and_prediction/13487941 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/9/09602f073e5511bf40144fa5aa97dc19c536ac55/mini/BOX_CONFE_MARTINEZ_b11c.jpg The Cobra says Olympic star will be a huge success in the pro ranks Carl Froch has backed new stable mate Luke Campbell MBE to go onto win major honors in the professional ranks. Campbell announced that he was turning pro with Matchroom Sport and Eddie Hearn in a huge July show in his hometown of Hull, joining the current World champions Froch and Ricky Burns as well as World title contenders George Groves, Darren Barker, Kell Brook and Tony Bellew in Britain’s best boxing stable. The 25 year old will be ringside when The Cobra clashes with Mikkel Kessler in their blockbuster rematch at the O2 Arena in London on May 25 live on Sky Sports Box Office in ‘Warriors’ Call’ in association with Betfair, and Froch believes that Campbell, who he saw at close quarters at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield in the build-up to the Olympics, will one day hold a World title himself. “Luke has all the ingredients to become a superstar in boxing,” said Froch. “The talent is there to see fro... Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:07:15 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/carl_froch_luke_campbell_has_the_ingredients_of_a_superstar/13470886 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/carl_froch_luke_campbell_has_the_ingredients_of_a_superstar/13470886 Carl Froch: Luke Campbell has the ingredients of a superstar http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/carl_froch_luke_campbell_has_the_ingredients_of_a_superstar/13470886 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/e/7eca9baadfdf3a2f081a9ceeaf27170292cf26b5/mini/PicImg_Boxing__Carl_aee0.jpg Looks like meat’s back on the menu boys! And by meat, I mean big time boxing. The main meal is the juicy HBO doubleheader headlined by a light heavyweight fight between Bernard Hopkins and Tavoris Cloud. There are other interesting titbits here and there that can serve as appetisers, and an excellent fight on HBO Latino that can be dessert. Bernard Hopkins vs. Tavoris Cloud, Saturday, HBO, New York. Tim will have the full preview of the week’s biggest fight. I just get the undercard scraps. Suffice to say that it’s a hugely intriguing clash between Hopkins’ guile and Cloud’s physicality. The televised undercard offers an interesting, if not fully HBO-worthy, welterweight fight between Florida’s Keith Thurman (19-0, 18 KO) and Slovenia’s Jan Zaveck (32-2, 18 KO). Zaveck earned a legion of fans in a gritty 2011 brawl with Andre Berto, a in which a cut and swollen Zaveck was let down by his skin. Thurman is a sharp, hard hitting prospect, though many wonder whether he would b... Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:49:11 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_weeks_boxing_schedule_featuring_bernard_hopkins_keith_thurman_and_darren_barker/13063819 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_weeks_boxing_schedule_featuring_bernard_hopkins_keith_thurman_and_darren_barker/13063819 The Week’s Boxing Schedule, Featuring Bernard Hopkins, Keith Thurman And Darren Barker http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/the_weeks_boxing_schedule_featuring_bernard_hopkins_keith_thurman_and_darren_barker/13063819 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/8/18f7571e3be98cd600e1dcd27928393e447adb1c/mini/Antonio_Tarver_v_c392.jpg Felix Verdejo got himself a little HBO shine Saturday thanks to that knockout, via a highlight clip that's rare for such an inexperienced fighter. Also probably because he does have the makings of a future action star, down the line. Also probably because HBO and Top Rank are buddies right now. Top Rank found an easier mark for Verdejo in his second fight than the first time around, which contributed to the knockout. The circle is complete. Besides the topics in the headline, we'll also revisit Miguel Angel Garcia's corner lobbying for their fight to be stopped, the problem of bad judging and other weekend results. Next for Mikey Garcia. Garcia's upside as a fighter appears tremendous -- he does everything well and now he's beaten a top-notch opponent in Orlando Salido. Here's what we know about his present: Garcia now has a claim as the best featherweight in the world; it's down to him or Chris John. On one hand, Garcia beat the #1 man, but... Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:06:34 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/weekend_afterthoughts_on_sergey_kovalev_whats_next_for_mikey_garcia_and_gennady_golovkin_more/12719758 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/weekend_afterthoughts_on_sergey_kovalev_whats_next_for_mikey_garcia_and_gennady_golovkin_more/12719758 Weekend Afterthoughts On Sergey Kovalev, What's Next For Mikey Garcia And Gennady Golovkin, More http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/weekend_afterthoughts_on_sergey_kovalev_whats_next_for_mikey_garcia_and_gennady_golovkin_more/12719758 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Chloe Sims - From British Reality Television Star to Boxing Ring Card Girl TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex, a British reality television show) star Chloe Sims will add a touch of glamour to Saturday’s boxing at London’s Olympia by becoming a ring card girl for the night. She will launch the first ever live odds boards for Betfair ahead of Darren Barker’s middleweight showdown with Kerry Hope. Right here, you can take a look at a few photos of Chloe Sims and some more information on her role as a boxing ring girl. Sexy Ring Card Girl Chloe Sims Photos The Essex beauty will enter the ring between rounds to display the live In-Play prices on a specially designed digi-board. The move enables fans and viewers at home to keep track of the odds and place their bets as the markets react to every jab, body shot and uppercut. The traditional round number will be placed on the reverse. TOWIE-favorite Chloe said: “I’m excited to be part of the show on Saturday and I can’t wait to ... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:10:45 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/photos_chloe_sims_betfairs_latest_ring_card_girl/12376555 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/photos_chloe_sims_betfairs_latest_ring_card_girl/12376555 Photos: Chloe Sims, Betfair’s latest ring card girl http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/photos_chloe_sims_betfairs_latest_ring_card_girl/12376555 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/4/5426a896deb5086c06cd332b2fb421420d0dc2f2/mini/Darren_Barker_v_384a.jpg We are offering one lucky reader the chance to win an exclusive pair of ringside seats to see Dazzling Darren Barker take on Kerry Hope  at Betfair’s Christmas Cracker at  London Olympia on Saturday, December 8th at the Olympia in London. Take a look below to see how you can get started with your chance to win ringside tickets to the event.   Credit: Ed Diller / DBE ProBoxing-Fans.com has teamed up with Betfair to offer you and a friend the opportunity to attend this festive night of fistic action.   Former European champion Darren Barker will be back to the ring for the first time in 14 months since his World middleweight title challenge against Sergio Martinez in Atlantic City last October. The card was also supposed to include several additional great fights such as Lee Purdy vs. Carson Jones, and Gavin Rees vs. John Murray. Unfortunately, each of those fights has been cancelled. However, there's still a great lineup of exciting fights, prospects testing themselves and... Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:47:17 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/win_ringside_tickets_to_barker_vs_hope_at_betfairs_christmas_cracker_in_london/12360574 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/win_ringside_tickets_to_barker_vs_hope_at_betfairs_christmas_cracker_in_london/12360574 Win ringside tickets to Barker vs. Hope at Betfair’s Christmas Cracker in London http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/win_ringside_tickets_to_barker_vs_hope_at_betfairs_christmas_cracker_in_london/12360574 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/1/b11c6c6fc10ad58a92c310b0f99a9c5fdf030e91/mini/Darren_Barker_v_ced9.jpg In the latest edition of the British boxing beat, we'll take a look at a few hot topics. Darren Barker is on the shelf with another injury, Ajose Olusegun has the biggest fight of his career coming up, and Nathan Cleverly is getting ready for his upcoming title defense as well. Read on for the latest buzz on the British boxing scene. Barker suffers injury again It’s a case of déjà vu for Darren Barker. The talented English middleweight put forth a gallant effort while losing to world kingpin Sergio Martinez in October of last year, but he has not fought since due to various injuries, his luck deserting him and leaving him temporarily lost amidst the bustling landscape of middleweight contenders. Barker only recently recovered from surgery he had to cure a long-standing hip injury, though perhaps adding frustration to injury, his latest setback is unrelated. Interviewed in the British press, Barker stated, “I was in the gym sparring and I caught my elbow on my sparring partner’s... Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:31:06 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/british_boxing_beat_barker_injured_cleverlys_next_fight_more/11592604 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/british_boxing_beat_barker_injured_cleverlys_next_fight_more/11592604 British boxing beat: Barker injured, Cleverly’s next fight & more http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/british_boxing_beat_barker_injured_cleverlys_next_fight_more/11592604 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/1/b11c6c6fc10ad58a92c310b0f99a9c5fdf030e91/mini/Darren_Barker_v_ced9.jpg Your middleweight champion is doing all he can. Sergio Martinez at least got himself into the discussion as a potential future opponent for money-makin' Floyd Mayweather, Jr., even if that honor went to someone else in May. He keeps pestering the WBC to give him the shot he was promised at a potentially rich fight with Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. His promoter, Lou DiBella has talked about keeping him busy off-TV rather than relying exclusively on HBO, and DiBella has apparently convinced some critics that he's finally got the right approach to handling Martinez. And failing any chance at a big one against Mayweather or Chavez in the immediate future, Martinez is facing one of the top few middleweight contenders Saturday on HBO -- and a contender who, by virtue of being British-Irish, is helping Martinez in New York City with ticket sales, an elusive target so far for a late-blooming, 37-year-old Argentinian campaigning in the United States.A while back, people would've laugh... Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:39:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/setting_course_sergio_martinez_vs_matthew_macklin_preview_and_prediction/10336741 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/setting_course_sergio_martinez_vs_matthew_macklin_preview_and_prediction/10336741 Setting Course: Sergio Martinez Vs. Matthew Macklin Preview And Prediction http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/setting_course_sergio_martinez_vs_matthew_macklin_preview_and_prediction/10336741 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/9/09602f073e5511bf40144fa5aa97dc19c536ac55/mini/BOX_CONFE_MARTINEZ_b11c.jpg Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KOs) defends his lineal middleweight title against Matthew "Mack the Knife" Macklin (28-3, 17 KOs) on Saturday, March 17 at 10 PM EST/7 PM PST on HBO World Championship Boxing. This 12-round fight headlines a night of fights in celebration of St. Patrick's Day in New York and will be held at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Macklin, born in Birmingham, West Midlands in the United Kingdom to Irish parents, comes into Saturday's fight as the clear underdog. Having fought the overwhelming majority of his career on the Euro circuit, Macklin is making only his third appearance on American soil. He has taken stabs at regional titles in two divisions, winning the Irish middleweight, BBBofC British middleweight, and EBU middleweight titles, but losing in both attempts at regional junior middleweight titles early in his career. In his last fight, Macklin traveled to Germany to challenge for Felix Sturm's WBA middleweight title. Macklin outw Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:46:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/martinez_vs_macklin_complete_preview/10329844 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/martinez_vs_macklin_complete_preview/10329844 Martinez vs. Macklin: Complete preview http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/martinez_vs_macklin_complete_preview/10329844 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/7/c7aee16ec5afc32994ecb9de3d9cebc3d2b7b2e6/mini/BOX_CONFE_MARTINEZ_d7cb.jpg HEARN: D-DAY LOOMS FOR BARKER’S NEXT MOVE Middleweight weighing up options for next fight ‘Dazzling’ Darren Barker has plenty of exciting options in front of him for his next fight but his promoter Eddie Hearn says they are ready to strike this week. Barker announced himself on the World stage with a gutsy challenge against pound-for-pound star Sergio Martinez in Atlantic City in October, and his performance should lead to a second World title shot this year. Hearn had earmarked the 29 year-old for the chief support slot when Kell Brook faces Matthew Hatton in Sheffield on March Read more [...] Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:38:39 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/hearn_d_day_looms_for_barkers_next_move/9543482 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/hearn_d_day_looms_for_barkers_next_move/9543482 HEARN-D-DAY LOOMS FOR BARKER’S NEXT MOVE http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/hearn_d_day_looms_for_barkers_next_move/9543482 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/e/fe494374aec45e7b58f04efaaa32466735642d08/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f56324345.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193B07CCDF00DC06F57ED5549ED0F4BC7BA591E7EC1A351FC8B.jpg You don't see or hear of many top fighters calling out the name of Middleweight Champion Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez.  Martinez, the WBC Diamond belt Middleweight Champion, and 2010 "Fighter of the Year" is currently riding a four-fight win streak (W12 Kelly Pavlik, KO2 Paul Williams, TKO8 Serhiy Dzinziruk, TKO11 Darren Barker) that has seen him climb the pound-for-pound list, falling behind only Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, both of whom have so far expressed no serious interest in facing Martinez.  Credit: Team Macklin That being said it might come as a surprise to hear a fighter actually eager to enter the ring against Martinez, but that's exactly the case with Ireland's Matthew "Mack the Knife" Macklin.  Macklin (28-3, 19KO's), the former European Champion, and WBA #4 rated middleweight in the world, is coming off a very impressive and entertaining showing on EPIX against "Super" WBA Middleweigh... Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:52:01 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/macklin_wants_martinez_in_nyc_on_st_patricks_day_2012/8086300 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/macklin_wants_martinez_in_nyc_on_st_patricks_day_2012/8086300 Macklin Wants Martinez in NYC on St. Patrick’s Day 2012 http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/macklin_wants_martinez_in_nyc_on_st_patricks_day_2012/8086300 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/9/09602f073e5511bf40144fa5aa97dc19c536ac55/mini/BOX_CONFE_MARTINEZ_b11c.jpg Big ol' knockouts are usually a good way to start these Weekend Afterthoughts, but this one is less fun for what a mismatch it was to put top cruiserweight Marco Huck in against someone like Rogelio Rossi. Maybe you can enjoy it now, knowing later that if Huck goes through with his plan to move to heavyweight, he'll be getting the "knocked out cold" against a Klitschko brother rather than giving it. Cruiserweights moving up to heavyweight is so passe.Because like anyone who makes predictions for fights, my prediction record is terrible this year, I'd like to take this moment to say that, yeah, I was wrong to think Nonito Donaire would knock out out Omar Narvaez this weekend in short order. But I was more right about the comparison to Sergio Martinez-Darren Barker than I could've imagined. Same 20/1ish favorite. Approximately the same attendance (although there were surely more giveaways for Martinez-Barker). A foreigner with no domestic U.S. profi... Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:42:21 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/weekend_afterthoughts_including_whats_next_for_nonito_donaire_and_mikey_garcia_boredom_vs/7784548 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/weekend_afterthoughts_including_whats_next_for_nonito_donaire_and_mikey_garcia_boredom_vs/7784548 Weekend Afterthoughts, Including What's Next For Nonito Donaire And Mikey Garcia, Boredom Vs. ... http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/weekend_afterthoughts_including_whats_next_for_nonito_donaire_and_mikey_garcia_boredom_vs/7784548 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png