Filed under: Boxing
Darren Barker claimed the European middleweight crown with a comfortable points victory over Italian Domenico Spada to put himself into contention for a world title and answer his critics' doubts after a 12-month absence from the ring.The Barnet man was forced to relinquish the European title last year when injury meant he pulled out of a defence against fellow Brit Matthew Macklin and, after a year out of action, some wondered if he could ever return to the form that had seen him knocking on the door of the world title scene.
But after undergoing hip surgery and putting all the issues of the past 12 months and beyond behind him, Barker put in a composed display to easily outscore the gutsy Italian who proved to be a tough opponent.
Dazzling Darren may not have been spectacular but he done more than enough to take the fight with the judges' scorecards of 115-113, 116- 113 and 116-113 seeming a bit generous to the Italian.
Spada definitely brought pedigree having fought in two interim world title fights previously and only narrowly lost out on both occasions, but Barker made relatively light work of the 30-year-old from start to finish.
After shaking off some expected ring rust in the opening three minutes, Barker began to land some superb combinations in the second and wasn't fazed by Spada landing a big shot towards the end of the round.
Barker remained composed to take the middle rounds of the contest and landed some powerful right hands in the sixth round, but the 28-year-old did tire towards the end and allowed Spada some success.
But after 12 months out of the ring, a lack of contest fitness can be forgiven and Barker still had enough control over the fight in the later rounds to ensure Spada couldn't find a way back into the bout despite attempts to rough the Barnet man up.
The judges seemed to give Spada more credit than he deserved with their scores but Barker's victory was never in doubt as he got his stop-start career back on track again.
REACTION:
Barker was in modest mood after the fight and felt he could have done better as he suffered with a lack of sharpness after his enforced absence from action.
The Barnet boxer realised he will have to improve for world title fights, but recognised Spada was never going to be a pushover.
"I'm happy to be back where I belong but I'm better than that. I've not been in there for 12 months and there was a bit of ring rust which I didn't think would actually be there and it did creep up on me," explained the 28-year-old.
"That's not taking anything away from Spada, he was a very tough opponent and those rounds will be very valuable and they're in the bank.
"I just think because he was just a tough and experienced opponent he found his way back into the fight and that's when the rust crept in. Everything was going my way but he got back in. That's a very good 12 rounds though and that will really push me forward."
Barker also admitted he may need another tough contest before he is ready to take on one of the middleweight division's world champions.
"It's onwards and upwards now. One more of those fights - a good 12 rounds and I'll be ready then. The fitness will come, the contest fitness is different. Match fitness and gym fitness is different and that 12 rounds will help me.
"He was the first real credible opponent I fought and he's ranked number six in the WBC rankings and I beat him quite handily despite not being at my best so I'm confident."
WHAT'S NEXT:
As Barker pointed out, another European level fight may be needed before he makes the step up in class to world level. The 28-year-old would probably like to defend his title anyways before he steps up. A fight with Macklin has been mooted, but it will all depend how the Birmingham fighter does against WBA champion Felix Sturm in June.
FIGHT OF THE UNDERCARD:
Ashley Sexton v Mike Robinson
Sexton was expected to waltz through this contest but it turned out to be a thrilling eight-round affair. After a stop-start beginning as both boxers lost their gum shields on numerous occasions, the fight came to life in the third as the pair exchanged shots. Sexton eventually wore down Robinson with some good body punches to just edge the victory on points.
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