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Daniel Geale will defend his IBF middleweight world title for the fifth title and have his first fight in the US as he takes on Brit Darren Barker in Atlantic City today. We’ll have updates from 11.30am AEDT.
Daniel Geale has the chance to cement a place in Aussie boxing history, and a stake a claim for global notoriety.
His opponent, Englishman Darren Barker, is a legitimate threat. Ranked number nine in the world by BoxRec, with Geale at number three, he will be no pushover.
He is gunning for Geale’s belt and has only been beaten by Sergio Martinez, the Argentine who is the number one middleweight on the planet.
Geale wants a shot at Martinez, and the power-punching number Gennady Golovkin, but first he has to build his profile in the States and earn some cred.
Dismantling Barker will help do that.
Geale’s journey to this point in his career, after conquering two Germans in Germany, and earning some revenge over Anthony Mundine, has been a proud one.
The humble former KFC employee from the Apple Isle has been in the fight game for a long time, but his career will explode if he can win this fight.
On the verge of great things, and perhaps another world title, Geale cannot afford to lose.
Though, neither can his opponent. A 31-year-old who has been afflicted by injury and personal setbacks, and who had his only other world title shot brought down by Martinez’s magic, it’s unluckily he will get another opportunity if he doesn’t win.
Geale and Barker are evenly matched, similar fighters who do the basics well and who don’t shirk their roles in the ring. If my opinion, Geale should get over the top of Barker but it won’t be a walk in the park. Read more about my analysis here – http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/08/17/geale-vs-barker-analysis-preview-prediction/
Whichever way it goes, fight fans should be in for a real treat. On the undercard another Aussie, undefeated featherweight fighter Joel Brunker, takes on Mike Oliver.
The card also features undefeated Colombian Jonathan Romero against Kiko Martinez Spaniard Kiko Martinez at super bantamweight, Puerto Rico’s undefeated welterweight Thomas Dulorme versus American Francisco Figueroa, and Cuban Yordenis Ugas fighting North Carolinian John Williams.
For all the round-by-action action and updates, tune in from 11.30am AEDT.
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