Daniel Cann

Commonwealth and Vacant British Middleweight Titles

The Brentwood Centre, Essex

28th November 2009

An intriguing opportunity to measure the form between hot prospects ‘Dazzling’ Darren Barker and Matt Macklin was sadly lost when former British Champion (and Macklin victim) Wayne Elcock fell ill with gastroenteritis 24 hours before his scheduled contest for the vacant British title with Commonwealth Champion Barker fell through. With the headline attraction on this Hennessey Sports promotion off the bill Bristol’s ‘Danny Boy’ Butler (16-2, going in to this one) stepped in to save the day at the eleventh hour. What made this all the more remarkable was that Butler had only fought two weeks earlier losing by a single point to Darren McDermott for the English Middleweight title. So the show was back on and 22-year-old Butler took his chance entering the proverbial lions den partisan atmosphere of the Brentwood Centre where chants of ‘There’s only one Darren Barker!’ reverberated.

You had to give Butler credit; this represented a big step up in class for him and was all the more remarkable in light of his recent contest. It was a real ‘throw-back’ situation and in an era of padded records and protected egos Butler emerged from this contest with a lot of kudos.

Barker looked relaxed and loose during the preliminary announcements, he was in his element and seemed eager to showcase his undoubted and proven talent once again in front of the live audience and the television audience watching on ITV4. He would not disappoint. After respected and experienced referee Richie Davies gave his firm instructions to both fighters we eagerly awaited the sound of the opening bell. Would Barker have too much for his five years younger and less experienced (but willing) opponent? Would Butler score an amazing upset? We were moments away from finding out.

Butler started brightly, happy to take the fight to the Commonwealth Champion. Barker was patient, biding his time. Suddenly he produced a fantastic right that must have got the younger man’s notice. Barker was working off his vaunted jab as the round progressed. Butler in contrast looked ragged, but spirited as he waded in and mixed it. Davies warned Butler for rabbit punching later in the round, a result of over-eagerness rather than any malicious intent from the Bristolian. With about 30 seconds to go Butler backed Barker up against the ropes but most of his punches hit gloves or were avoided by his composed and untroubled opponent. The bell ended a spirited first round from Butler, some even giving it to him or scoring it even, on my card Barker’s cleaner punching shaded it for me. This was promising though; Butler was certainly not overawed or lacking in self-belief.

The second saw Barker really applying some snap to his jab and landing with it with increased regularity. Butler continued with his wild flurries, but these attacks were uncoordinated and did not trouble Barker who showed his class in landing a neat left to the body left uppercut to the head combination. The action was kept more at range in this round with both boxers happy to comply with this state of affairs. Butler had tasted Barker’s power and was showing more respect, he covered up and moved well. Barker stuck to his neat boxing, working off the jab and picking his shots.

The fight continued in a similar vein in the third as Barker continued to dominate with his excellent range-finder jab. Butler tried to avoid it but to no avail. Barker also landed a good punch to the body. The contrast in styles was again evident as Barker’s work was measured and accurate whereas Butler’s was spirited but messy. Barker was soon moving into a clear lead.

Butler’s woes continued early in the fourth when a fast right connected cleanly with his chin. The Bristolian’s attacks were easing off and he spent long periods of the bout in his defensive shell. But who could blame him? Barker was unnervingly accurate as he mixed his shots to head and body. After one particular tasty looking one-two combination from Barker all Butler could offer by way of reply was to stick out his chin and drop his hands in a show of misplaced bravado and defiance. The punches spurred Butler into another attack; he was definitely not short on heart. He got tagged for his efforts by another Barker right and a left hook moments later.

It was evident that all the power was with Barker. Butler could fight only in spurts. Barker was giving Butler a steady working over, applying steady and hurtful pressure. In contrast Butler’s work had a touch of desperation and at the end of the round he trudged back to his corner with a cut on the bridge of his nose as well as bruised and puffy eyes. Barker was totally unmarked and untroubled in contrast.

The punishment continued in the fifth as Barker continued to stalk Butler, punishing him to head and body. All Butler could offer was defiance and a smile as he tried to score psychological points, but he was fooling no one least of all Barker. Barker ended this round with two punishing left hooks downstairs. Butler was bleeding freely at the bell. It had become totally one-sided and not even the blindest of optimists could see a Butler victory unfolding. I had not given him a round yet. You admired his courage and tenacity but he was simply out of his depth here.

The unhurried but punishing work of Barker continued in the sixth. Butler was dead game and kept firing back, but his punches lacked accuracy and venom. All the while Butler bounced around and flailed he was getting a steady working over, he soon had a new vertical cut just over the left eye to add to his troubles. Butler’s knees dipped after taking a thunderous Barker right. Hurt and against the ropes Butler was caught with disturbing ease time and time again. There was no way back and at the bell referee Davies walked to Butler’s corner headed by Tex Woodward to take a close look.

While his cornermen feverishly worked on his swellings with an endswell and a swab on his cuts the brave challenger pleaded for the fight to continue. If there were a Championship for bravery then Butler would hold it. After a lot of commotion and cajoling it was agreed that Butler would be allowed one more round to turn things around, if not he would be pulled out.

The seventh did not see a sudden change in fortunes as Barker was on the attack early. Butler bravely went toe to toe with his skillful tormentor only to get caught cleanly several times for his troubles, after a two-fisted assault rocked him back onto his heels Davies showed excellent timing and compassion by finally stepping in to wave Butler’s game challenge over. The official announcement minutes later had the stoppage at ’47 seconds of round seven with Butler in no position to continue.’

He had given it his all and it was a case of a boxer being saved from his own misguided courage. Butler can look back on this fight and know that he gave it his all and has every reason to hold his head high. He can take a long and deserved rest after contesting two title fights in as little as two weeks. Talk about a baptism of fire! In the post fight interview on television the personable Butler pointed out that he is still only 22 and has plenty of time to come again. I have no doubt that at domestic level he can eventually become a champion, he was simply out of his depth tonight in almost every department, against an opponent who surely must be ready for higher honours now.

The likeable Barker paid tribute to his opponent for his courage and for saving the show. He also emphasized the importance of his trainer Tony Sims, thanking him for giving him direction and motivation making him the fighter he is. The new British and Commonwealth Champion (who moved to 21 – 0 with 14 KO’s) said that his intention was never to overlook the Lonsdale belt and he was clearly delighted when the belt was presented to him. Barker is a true class act, a fight with domestic rival Birmingham’s Matt Macklin may not happen at this level, but their paths may cross someday in the future and what a mouth watering prospect that would be. For now Barker can look forward to contesting the European title and breaking into the World’s top ten. He has the skills and the dedication to go all the way.