Darren Barker captures the Commonwealth Middleweight title


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Darren Barker captures the Commonwealth Middleweight title

By Iain Dolan at ringside (Nov 15, 2007) Doghouse Boxing

Barnet’s Darren Barker captured the commonwealth middleweight title by pitching a virtual shut-out in front of his enthusiastic fans at York Hall. Barker, 11st 4 ½ lbs, dominated from the off against New South Wales ’ Ben Crampton, 11st 4 ½ lbs, scoring frequently with jabs through the middle of Crampton’s high held guard.

The first couple of rounds saw Darren working of the jab and also landing the occasional long straight right, although Crampton blocked a plenty on his gloves and rode the punches that landed well. Into the third and Barker started to look

downstairs too in an attempt to vary the angle of attack and find a way though Ben’s guard. Barker didn’t really cause Ben any distress, but he continued to rack up the points.

Round four was Darren’s best as he buckled the Australian’s legs with a double left hook to the head and body but despite being in trouble Crampton came back with a flurry of his own more to put Darren off from looking for a finish rather than as an offensive measure. The chance gone, Barker continued over the next couple to pick up the points with the jab and occasional straight right getting home as well.

It wasn’t until the eighth round that Crampton started to show some ambition. Realising the fight was slipping away from him he started to exert some pressure on Darren by throwing a lot of hooks, but Barker still landed the greater number of clean punches. In the ninth Ben enjoyed a little success as one barrage resulted in Barker’s gum-shield coming out. However, that was as good as it got for Crampton who continued to huff and puff through the last three rounds but Barker carried on picking him off without really needing to go up through the gears. Barker’s comfortable superiority was confirmed with margins of 120-108, 120-108 and 119-110 on the cards much to the delight of his noisy fans. Barker will now look forward to bigger and better things, where he will surely meet sterner tests. Crampton was game but, like the

Aussie rugby team, heads home empty handed.

A far more competitive fight on the undercard saw Mordon’s Lenny Daws, 10st, tangle with Hartlepool’s Nigel Wright, 9s 13 ¾ lbs, in a ten rounder for Wright’s English Welterweight strap. It was a rematch of their 2006 British title fight which Daws took on points. Wright was intent on revenge and, from a southpaw stance, was first to the punch in the first few rounds, landing plenty of jabs and then holding when he got inside to negate Daws efforts to mix it up.

Lenny started to make some headway in the fifth as his work on the inside started to tell, a couple of uppercuts snapped Nigel’s head back and brought the Mordon Massive to life In the sixth and seventh Daws started to work his jab a bit more and landed a couple of good straight rights, while Nigel looked to get involved on the inside and threw a few nice body shots.

Come the eighth round Nigel appeared to be tiring a bit but could just have been taking a breather believing he had rounds in the bank. Lenny fought with urgency as though he also thought Wright was in front and continued into the ninth round looking for a big shot to swing things his way. The final round saw both fighters go for it to finish on a high and impress referee Phil Edwards. The man in the middle announced a 95-95 draw which is how the Sky Sports team also scored it. However, most of us in the press section, including Boxing News Editor Claude Abrahams, felt that Wright had won it by three or four rounds. Maybe a third encounter will settle the issue.

Earlier on in the evening Albanian favourite Kresnik Qato, 11st 7 ½ lbs teed off on hard headed Ernie Smith,11st 7lbs, for six rounds in front of his raucous army of supporters. Qato put some nice combinations together and gave his fans plenty to shout about but could barely dent Smith early on. By the fourth, Ernie was blowing a bit and clowning for the Sky cameras as Qato tried in vain to find a finish. But had to settle for a 60-54 decision.

Another lively atmosphere at York Hall in front of the Sky cameras and plenty of tickets sold so another success for Mick Hennessy. Not a huge success for your humble reporter however as work and London Transport conspired to cause him to miss the first three fights of the night. Apologies for that.