Daniel Geale vs. Darren Barker on HBO Boxing After Dark at The Revel
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Atlantic City, NJ (July 26, 2013)– International Boxing Federation World Middleweight champion Daniel Geale will defend his world title against British challenger Darren Barker in the televised Home Box Office main event of a seven bout card at The Revel Hotel Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Saturday, August 17, 2013. The event will be the first ever professional boxing card at held The Revel. The boxing card will be a joint promotion between Gary Shaw and Gary Shaw Promotions, Grange Old School Boxing (Bill Tracy), Matchroom Boxing (Eddie Hearn), and Greg Cohen Promotions (Greg Cohen). Geale could get a title unification opportunity fight with WBC World Middleweight champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez if gets by Barker.
Daniel Geale versus Darren Barker, Road to Atlantic City Five Minute YouTube Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZafJ1S9XF4
Geale, now 29-1, with 15 knockouts, New South Wales, Australia, might face a mandatory defense against fellow Australian Sam Soliman, who won an IBF eliminator, once Geale gets by Barker, 25-1, with 16 knockouts, London, United Kingdom. Soliman is on a nine month suspension to November 2013, after a urine sample taken after his victory over Felix Sturm was found to contain the illegal stimulant metylsynephrine, resulting in a no-contest. Sturm, who lost to Geale before fighting Soliman, made his own bid for a rematch with Geale with a fourth round stoppage of 27-0 Predrag Radosevic on July 6.
Barker, coming off fourth round stoppage wins over Kerry Hope and Simone Rotolo, got knocked out by World Boxing Council World Middleweight champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in October 2011. In that bout, Barker showed a good defense, but Martinez punched holes in it with straight power shots to the face and head. Martinez knocked out Barker with an overhand power right, a money punch. Look for Geale to throw and score with straight jabs and power shots, and look for openings to get overhand left and right hand power shots through Geale’s upraised gloves defense.
Barker has a good overhand right, but he threw it only tentatively against Martinez. Conversely, Martinez outworked Barker and kept him guessing, placed single shots and threw right-left combinations with meticulous effectiveness, boxing patiently against Barker. When Barker opened up on Martinez after a referee’s break, Martinez answered Barker’s contempt by testing him back, and Barker couldn’t take it.
Geale outboxed Anthony Mundine in their January 2013 rematch by demonstrating ring generalship, getting inside Mundine’s defenses and landing jabs with pinpoint accuracy. Geale has good movement, is good at slipping punches and then landing counters. Mundine proved Geale could be hit by rapid left right combinations, if confronted with lethal hand speed. Mundine was only able to keep this approach up to speed for four or five of the 12 round world title bout, including flurries and body shots. Geale fights well under pressure, but should avoid staying on the ropes. Geale fights equally well from short range and long range, using side to side motion to make himself a difficult target.
Geale fights best when the exchanges are fast, fierce and tough, and can break Barker down after nine rounds if he keeps up a fiery pace. Geale must take advantage of the fact he is faster on his feet than Barker, and a busier fighter. Barker waits for opportunities and doesn’t like to scrap it out. Barring a change in game plan, Barker will try to win a technical fight with Geale, and Geale will take Barker into the championship rounds before he finishes him. Barker has stated he truly believes he is quicker and better than Daniel Geale. If so, he will have to prove it as the underdog in the HBO main event on August 17.
Prediction: Daniel Geale will stop Darren Barker between rounds nine and eleven and will retain his title. Geale will have to train for the fight of his life and will have to fight it to beat barker, who is still hungry for a better performance than his previous title effort with Martinez. With this win, Geale should receive the opportunity to fight WBC Diamond World Middleweight champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez to determine the undisputed World Middleweight champion in Fall 2013 over WBO World champion Peter Quillin.
On the undercard, 23-0 IBF Super Bantamweight champion Jonathan Romero of Columbia is favored to defend his world title over challenger Kiko Martinez of Spain, a former European champion who lost that title when he was stopped in the ninth round in Belfast by Carl Frampton in February 2013. Prediction: Romero Win 12.
Also scheduled: lightweight Jonathan Maicelo; welterweight Thomas Dulorme versus Francisco Figueroa; featherweight Joel Brunker versus Mike Oliver; light welterweight Yordenis Ugas versus John Williams; and lightweight Mike Faragon versus Daniel Calzada.
Tickets are available for the Geale-Barker event at Revel Ovation Hall. . Prices start at $30 at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000 at the Revel Ovation Hall. The HBO Boxing After Dark telecast will begin at 9:45 P.M. Eastern Standard Time.
COMMENTS
English