Tonight's official fight thread

by BallchinianMuffwig Sat 07 Dec 2013, 8:08 pm

First topic message reminder :

Let's get this party started.
I can't watch any of the action tonight due to being at work, a running commentary would be much appreciated.
Cheers!

by Izzi Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:25 pm

Nice to see Barker singing the national anthem, c'mon sunshine!

by mobilemaster8 Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:27 pm

Come on Daz. Hope he does well but cant see it myself. Sturm has been under rated in this one and will prove himself.

Hope in proves wrong. Hope Daz puts on a show, fans are excellent.

by 3fingers Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:32 pm

Sturm is so much physically stronger than Barker.

by Izzi Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:32 pm

Cracking opening round... if you were a Sturm fan.

Sturm 10-9 Barker

by mobilemaster8 Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:32 pm

Oh dear.

by **Seanusarrilius** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:32 pm

great opener. Sky's team are crapping themselves. Ha

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:33 pm

Nick Halling needs to go away, not just from boxing.....but form all sports. He was awful when he did the NFL, he's even worse doing the boxing. Barker wasn't rocked in that round, got caught yes but not rocked, Halling made it sound like Barker was out on his feet.

by DarrenKnight Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:33 pm

That was a great opening round.

by mobilemaster8 Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:36 pm

Wowzer. Complete and utter difference in class. Felix has really come out and shut everyones mouth here. Very impressed.

by Duty281 Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:36 pm

Good fight while it lasted. Barker was far too aggressive and shipped far too much punishment coming in. It cost him dear.

by Guest Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:36 pm

A complete mullering.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:37 pm

Simms has done the right thing there. Barker has a history with injuries and it looked like his hip had gone after the second knockdown, that said Sturm has just had his best performance for about four years.

by DarrenKnight Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:38 pm

He was definitely limping there after the knock down. That is a shame.

by Lance Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:38 pm

said that if barker goes in aggressive like he did against geale that he would get stopped early. sturm has always been accurate

by rob-glos Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:38 pm

Answers on a postcard about what Barker was doing for the first knockdown...

Leaning on with no defence, wide open to the right hand.

by Lance Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:39 pm

said that if barker goes in aggressive like he did against geale that he would get stopped early. sturm has always been accurate

by mobilemaster8 Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:39 pm

Different class completely. Mismatch.

Didn't think it would be. How wrong could i be.

a sleeping giant has just been woken up.

by Happytravelling Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:41 pm

Hampo - I'm not sure if Simms did do the right thing... throwing in the towel with your fighter throwing a combination etc.

However, Barker was doing everything wrong. Got caught and at that time it was time to change plan. But he kept trying to man it out. He was doing OK at the time of the towel coming in but was probably a matter of time. We will never know.

Will there be a rematch? Not on that performance.

by All Time Great Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:41 pm

Poor performance from Barker. Having said that, he is at best a fringe level contender- did well to win a world title.

by Izzi Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:42 pm

Jim Watt speaks sense for the first time in years. Injury or not Barker was getting his rear end handed to him. Badly.

by Izzi Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:43 pm

Dislocated hip?!?!?!?! He wouldn't be able to walk!

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:44 pm

Happytravelling wrote:Hampo - I'm not sure if Simms did do the right thing... throwing in the towel with your fighter throwing a combination etc.

However, Barker was doing everything wrong. Got caught and at that time it was time to change plan. But he kept trying to man it out. He was doing OK at the time of the towel coming in but was probably a matter of time. We will never know.

Will there be a rematch? Not on that performance.

Not so sure mate, Barker had no legs after that knockdown and was a still target. He probably feels that he's saved him from taking further punishment, I feel he's right as well.

by Strongback Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:45 pm

It's not a huge surprise, I never really fancied Barker at this level and Strum has operated with quality opponents for a long time.

Barker looked too cocky. Even an old Strum is no gimme.

I called it in the betting thread, should have put a few bob on it!

Eddie's not having a great time and he has a duff card coming up next week. Eddie doesn't mind have big fights abroad as it costs him next to nothing. I don't expect he will offer Strum a million for a rematch in London. Eddie will be saying their is no appetite for a rematch due to the early stopping.

by **Seanusarrilius** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:52 pm

And Eddie would be right, Strongy.

Shame for Barker. Blown out really. Not sure why he felt the need to trade so early?

Another world champ gone. Burns won't be able to hold on to his for much longer either.

by Happytravelling Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:53 pm

Hampo - they were claiming a dislocated hip when I turned over to watch the other fights. So, I assume it was a good call. Still not sure the timing was right, for their fighter. He was fighting back. Should of perhaps waited till he was under pressure again but that's just a semantic argument. He wasn't fighting the right fight (perhaps because of the hip) and it was probably a matter of time.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:54 pm

Wow, didn't know they where claiming that as I turned over pretty much straight away.

by Lumbering_Jack Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:58 pm

It's a very convenient excuse. I think that limp looked very fake.

by Strongback Sat 07 Dec 2013, 10:58 pm

Serious vascularity on Strum, always makes me wonder.

by Lance Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:02 pm

he hurts his hip when he goes down the second time. its very noticeable.

man you think froch and brook could try and find less excuses and give sturm some credit.

the better man won.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:05 pm

Butler needs to shorten his punches, his wide hooks wouldn't land on Stevie Wonder.

That said, when he throws combinations he has lightening hand speed and great defences.

by mobilemaster8 Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:09 pm

Sturm was the better man tonight and would do the same in the rematch. No way does Barker ever beat Sturm.

by Scottrf Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:11 pm

Lance wrote:he hurts his hip when he goes down the second time. its very noticeable.

man you think froch and brook could try and find less excuses and give sturm some credit.

the better man won.

He held it after the first time he went down.

Tony Sims says that's probably it for his career.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:13 pm

Simms had said previously that he expected Barker to retire after he'd won a world title but Barker wanted to defend it, shame it ended this way but his career has been ruined by injuries.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:16 pm

Barker has apparently told Hearn he's finished Sad

by BallchinianMuffwig Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:19 pm

Is Mathews-Ormond on after Butler?

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:20 pm

Yeah

by Strongback Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:22 pm

Eddie didn't need to come up with an excuse for not paying for a rematch. The hip won't be recovered for next summer so the contract expires.

by **Seanusarrilius** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:22 pm

Barker made a million for this fight, so injuries or not, fair play to him for securing his future. Why not retire with faculties intact. Good luck to you Dazzler.

Did make Bruno's reign look extensive though

by Strongback Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:25 pm

Seanusarrilius wrote:Barker made a million for this fight, so injuries or not, fair play to him for securing his future. Why not retire with faculties intact. Good luck to you Dazzler.

Did make Bruno's reign look extensive though

How much of that million does he actually bank though.

by RanjitPatel Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:27 pm

Is there any chance barker went to the ring with the injury (maybe not as bad as it turned out to be), fought inside as he couldn't move fluently? With a million riding on him getting in the ring I wouldn't blame him.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:30 pm

I think there's a very big chance that is the case Ranjit.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:34 pm

Paul Butlers had looks like it's banged up badly after that fight.

by Strongback Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:35 pm

What was the Box Nation card like?

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:36 pm

Decent domestic card, Enzo got another win against Fry. Came through some sticky moments before getting the stoppage. Liam Smith was very impressive.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:38 pm

Come on Derry!

by Marky Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:45 pm

RanjitPatel wrote:Is there any chance barker went to the ring with the injury (maybe not as bad as it turned out to be), fought inside as he couldn't move fluently? With a million riding on him getting in the ring I wouldn't blame him.

This. Makes you wonder why David Haye didn't fight Fury with a cut eyebrow for £5m.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:46 pm

Barker has announced his retirement.

by **hampo17** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:48 pm

Marky wrote:
RanjitPatel wrote:Is there any chance barker went to the ring with the injury (maybe not as bad as it turned out to be), fought inside as he couldn't move fluently? With a million riding on him getting in the ring I wouldn't blame him.
This. Makes you wonder why David Haye didn't fight Fury with a cut eyebrow for £5m.

Because David Haye has made enough money in his career to be financially secure. This was Barkers first really big pay day.

by rob-glos Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:49 pm

And also because he wouldn't have passed the medical with stitches in his face!

by **88Chris05** Sat 07 Dec 2013, 11:51 pm

Derry's looking a bit of a sucker for the left hand at the moment. Busier than Ormond but his work nowhere near as clean.

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