Daniel Geale is in for a hard night at the office when he makes his US debut against England’s Darren Barker.
Geale has the chance to really announce himself to the American public with a big HBO-backed car and possibly secure challenges at middleweight rivals Sergio Martinez and Gennady Golovkin.
It is a massive opportunity that comes around very, very rarely.
But Barker stands in his way and will be no easy mark.
The Barnet-born fighter is younger than Geale (by nine months), taller then him and has the longer reach. He has also fought in Atlantic City before, back in 2011, when he was knocked out by Martinez in the 11th round.
Like Geale, Barker came up through the amateurs and won gold at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, just a division below the Aussie. Like Geale he has just one pro loss on his record.
But unlike Geale he has yet to claim a world title with fate, and tragedy, so far standing in his way.
Barker is the son of a British amateur champion and his younger brother Gary was also a talented boxer. But Gary died in a car accident in 2006 and the loss of his sibling affected Darren greatly.
His professional career, which started in 2004, was put on hold for a year and Barker did not get back in the ring until October 2007. Recently Barker spoken openly about his brother’s death and the impact it has had on him.
The London fighter has also had to contend with a series of recurring injuries which disrupted his career and a brutal attack in the street where he was set upon by a gang.
Because of this he has changed his training regime, cut down his running and introduced yoga into his gym work.
Barker is not short of motivation; he knows this is the ultimate make-or-break time in his professional career.
Barker admitted after his fight against Martinez, who he troubled early but faded as the fight wore on, that he wasn’t convinced that he could beat the Argentine. This time he says he is confident and utterly convinced that he will beat Geale.
He appears very strong mentally and it seems as though he will just about die on his stool. Barker will do virtually anything to claim that elusive world title.
Geale is facing an opponent who will give every ounce of sweat, blood and tears to come away victorious. But I still see things going the way of the Tasmanian in a tight one on Sunday.
The IBF title-holder has more professional experience (four more fights) and has a background of going overseas against big odds and getting the job done (in Germany twice).
He has improved over the past few years and, apart from Martinez of course, has beaten tougher fighters than Barker has recently – Anthony Mundine, Felix Sturm, Osumanu Adama, Ermosele Albert and Sebastian Sylvester compared to Simone Rotolo, Kerry Hope and Domenico Spada.
Geale has the workrate and awareness to trouble Barker. The Pom may have the edge in size and power, with KO rate of 61 percent compared to the Sydney-based boxer’s rate of 50 percent, but the 32-year old should be quicker and harder to hit.
Another factor in Geale’s favour is that Barker’s trainer, Englishmen Tony Sims, apparently won’t be in Barker’s corner in Atlantic because of visa problems.
That is a definite advantage for the champion.
I expect Geale to start aggressively and score points early. He will work off his jab and create space to come inside.
Both fighters are brave and Geale will need to maintain the rage over the full 12 rounds. Barker has tired in other fights before but he is unlikely to in this one.
Geale will throw more punches but will need to be careful about copping blows from the heavy-handed Barker.
Australian featherweight Joel Brunker believes Geale’s workrate and ability to counter-punch will get him over the line. I agree.
There’s no doubt that Geale is facing a quality fighter, ranked number nine in the world (Geale is third), who is gunning for him. If he is not at his best, he will lose.
But with the history of recent Anglo-Australian sporting battles, from the Lions to the Ashes, I think this is one that is just going in favour of the Antipodean.
‘The Bashes’, as one local boxing writer dubbed it, should be a beauty.
Geale by split decision or a close unanimous points decision.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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