After failing to land a big-name opponent, middleweight champion Sergio Martinez has settled on facing undefeated European Darren Barker for his third title defense on October 1.
Lou DiBella, Martinez’s promoter, claims that Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., Paul Williams, Miguel Cotto and Daniel Gale all turned down the fight. Despite Barker being popular in the UK but a virtual unknown in the Staes, DiBella is confident the matcuhup can be an international attraction with HBO’s backing.
“We met with HBO, they know our intention and our meetings have been positive,” DiBella explained to ESPN. “They know the situation. They are well aware that the fight has been offered to many top opponents. I believe we will have a deal with HBO completed this week… Out of the guys who are available, this is a guy who wants to fight Sergio. Sergio would have fought any of them, but people are turning him down left and right, but Barker is a guy who wanted this fight.”
Barker (23-0, 14 KOs) is ranked #2 in the UK. In April, he won the vacant European middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Domencio Spada. Having never fought a Top 10 middleweight, facing Martinez will be a large step up in class for the 28-year-old Barker.
In an uncharacteristic move, Martinez had harsh words for Miguel Cotto, who he deemed a coward for turning down their potential fight. Although three fights removed from junior middleweight, Martinez disclosed that he was willing to move back down to make the bout. Bob Arum, who promotes Cotto, has publicly shot down any of his fighters facing Martinez. That includes Chavez Jr., who on June 4 won the WBC title that was stripped from Martinez.
“As I have always said, I am ready for anyone,” Martinez told ESPN. “Nobody else took a step forward to make this fight, but Barker did. I am very disappointed in Cotto. He has no balls to face me.”
At press time, Darren Barker is rumored to be taking a tune-up bout on July 23.
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I feel bad for Martinez. He’s 36 years old and trying to close out his career with some big name fights. Unfortunately, he competes in a barren division (when it comes to big names) and it too talented for smaller, star fighters to move up and take the risk (Mayweather, Pacquiao, Cotto etc.). The call outs aren’t going to change anything. Arum is not going to let his cash cows get embarrassed. I think Martinez should seriously look at unifying against WBA champ Felix Strum. He’d have to travel, but that would be a big fight overseas.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 
Darren Barker is A great fighter, I seen most of his fights, and seen him live couple times… He will do well against Martinez, hopefully he will get the crown hes deserves. hes had A few tought brakes in his career