"Dazzling" Darren Barker has been lighting up the Middleweight scene with a string of electric performances that have seen the unbeaten Barnet man lift a Commonwealth title in the pro's to emulate his Commonwealth Gold medal from the amateur ranks.
Barker made the switch to the paid code in 2004 after a glittering amateur career that saw him amass a wealth of international experience and take the top step at the podium in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
With that kind of amateur pedigree Barker was always going to make people sit up and take notice in the pro ranks and he underlined this by making his pro debut against former World title challenger Howard Clarke.
An impressive six round win over Clarke set the tone for a pro career that now sees him on the verge of British domination and a move towards the European and World stages.
A run of 15 straight wins (10 by KO) led him to a fight with undefeated Australian Ben Crampton for the Commonwealth title in 2007. Barker took the step up in class in his stride giving the man from Down Under a boxing lesson en route to a shut out points win.
He followed that up with a dominant stoppage win in his first defence against former European title challenger, Steve Bendall before crossing the Atlantic to give Canadian fans a chance to see him in action as he outpointed Larry Sharpe.
Barker was back on home soil to round out an impressive 2008 with a stoppage win over Jason McKay. This year however promises to be the most important yet for Barker and it started in fine style with a crushing one punch stoppage win over reigning English Champ Darren McDermott in a fight that served as a final eliminator for the British title as well as a defence of his Commonwealth belt.
Next up for Barker is a double title showdown with British Champ Matthew Macklin and the 27 year old believes that a win over Macklin will set him up for European and possibly World title glory in 2010. Watch this space!
After Macklin decided against the fight and vacated the British Title, Barker was paired with former British Chmapion and world title challenger Wayne Elcock. Due to illness Elcock pulled out of the fight with less than a week before the fight was meant to be staged and Bristol's Danny Bulter stepped up. Barker won the fight and claimed the British title for the first time after a TKO in the 7th round.
