Trainer Sims looking for a straight flush on Saturday night

Hennessy Sports24th November, 2009

Essex trainer Tony Sims is likely to be the busiest man in boxing on Saturday night with no fewer than five of his boxers in action at the Brentwood Centre including headliner "Dazzling" Darren Barker.

The Barnet man tops the bill as he faces Birmingham's Wayne Elcock for the British Middleweight title on a Hennessy Sports event which is live on ITV4.

With four other boxers on the bill it's all added up to a busy few months for the Hainault based trainer but Sims says he wouldn't have it any other way. "The gym is buzzing right now and Darren raises the bar for everyone. He's a consummate professional. He does everything right, he eats right, he trains unbelievably hard and he lives the right life outside the ring. He's also a very humble, down to earth guy and a great role model for the youngsters in the gym."

Sims believes that all Barker's hard work will be rewarded on Saturday night with the Lonsdale belt. "Darren's had a 14 week training camp for this one and I think the results of that will show on Saturday. The sparring has been great, Darren's worked with guys like George Groves, Anthony Small Sam Webb and he's looked very sharp throughout.

"You have to respect Elcock, he's been in with some very good fighters and he knows what this level is all about. It's the last chance saloon for him so we know he's going to be really up for this one but I believe that Darren's a special talent. I've watched him progress now over the years and he's on the verge of big things. He can go all the way and the next 12 to 18 months are going to be very important for him."

Sims believes that a win on Saturday night will put Barker in line to face some of the big names on the world scene in 2010. "The middleweight division isn't as deep as some of the other weight classes in World boxing right now," said Sims.

"For example up at super middleweight you have the Super Six and that shows the depth in talent there but at middleweight there are definitely openings there that Darren can exploit. The WBC champ Kelly Pavlik hasn't been fighting regularly and I think that Felix Sturm (WBA) and Sebastian Sylvester (IBF) are both there to be taken. It's really exciting times for Darren at the moment and if he can come through on Saturday night the World's his oyster."

Sims also has an interest in the chief support at the Brentwood Centre with his charge Lee Purdy defending his Southern Area Welterweight title against Mark Douglas.

"I watched Douglas beat Scott Woolford a little while back and I think he'll be a real handful .A lot of people thought he beat Ashley Theophane in his last fight and he's a real tough guy. He's constantly on the front foot and he throws shots from all angles so Lee will have to be careful.

"He'll have to be very disciplined and fight an intelligent fight. He's can't afford to get drawn into his opponents kind of fight but Lee's improving all the time and he's a lot stronger at welterweight so I'm confident that he can do it."

Sims will also oversee Daniel Cadman's return to the ring this weekend following a three year layoff. The Waltham Abbey man will now campaign as a Super Middleweight and Sims feels that he can be a threat on the British scene.

"Daniel originally just came back to the gym to shed some weight and do a little training but it wasn't long before he got the hunger back to box again. He's worked very hard and he already has a decent record and plenty of experience so I think after 3 or 4 good wins he'll be ready for anyone domestically."

Sims will also be in the corner of his latest two protégé's 2008 ABA featherweight champ Bradley Evans and the last British fighter to beat Amir Khan, Bobby Ward with both men having their fourth pro fights.

"They're both at identical stages in their career's right now," said Sims. "They're still very young but there's plenty of talent there and as long as they continue to train hard and live the right life they can go places."

Saturday's action packed undercard also features exciting showman puncher Yassine "The Showman" El Maachi and unbeaten prospects Phill Fury and Steve Barnes.

Tickets for the event priced £30 and £80 are available from the Ticketline box office on 0844 888 4402 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.

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