Barnes-Hare a potential classic by Ronnie McCluskey Sep 4th 2004

On October 1st, two of Britain's rising stars will do battle in what looks to be the best domestic encounter for some time. Undefeated British welterweight champion David Barnes will face off against former WBF holder James Hare, at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester. It'll be Barnes' third defence of his crown, and a chance for Hare to get back on the right track, after his devastating loss to Mexican Cosme Rivera. Some may wonder why I consider these two fighers rising stars. Maybe thats a little harsh, considering one's already a British champ, and the other a former world title holder (even if it was the WBF). But that's my stance. Neither have hit their peak yet, and there's plenty more to come. This fight intrigues me for several reasons. Both of these guys are naturally gifted. Sometimes you see fighters who look as though they're forcing it. Some are ragged, some look unrefined, and some have struggled and toiled to be the fighter they are. Barnes and Hare though, seem to have been born with the gift. Barnes has a distinct, clever way about him in the ring, and Hare is one of the craftiest and awkward fighters you'll come across this side of the Atlantic. I was initially surprised when this fight was announced. The fight seems almost too good to be true. This won't appeal to the casual fan, but the purists will know what I'm talking about. Its going to be a highly-skilled chess-match, two slicksters looking to counter each other. With only one loss between them, in a combined 47 fights, neither is used to being on the receiving end. With that pride and bravado at stake, it should be interesting. There are many questions that need to be answered. Has Hare quite recovered from the Rivera thrashing? Is Barnes the real deal? After all, journeyman Jimmy Vincent, who's been around the block, gave him fits for twelve rounds. This is exactly the kind of fight both need to boost their profile. Both need recognition for the kind of skills they possess, and the only way for that to happen, is a combined effort. It's a risk, but it's calculated...The only question now is who will come out on top? It's a hard one to pick. David Barnes is a pure-bred counter-puncher. He fights on the back foot, looking for gaps in his opponent's defence. And when he finds them you better buck up your ideas, because he has a knack for finding the same spot over and over. Against Kevin McIntyre, he landed the big left hand through the middle on a number of occasions...and it was the Scot's downfall. Barnes is also very fit, and well-prepared. He seldom wastes punches, and instead prefers to make every shot count. His talent is undeniable. He also takes a good punch. Just ask McIntyre, and Vincent. James Hare is similar, in many ways. He's almost as calculating, and his ring-awareness is impeccable. His style is very unothodox, and he too wastes few punches. Hare is also somewhat of a counter-puncher, although he works well inside too, and he can press the action. With power behind it too. He has 16 KO's to his name. Incidentally, he has stopped more peole than Barnes has fought. I doubt either man will lose by KO, but certainly, both have some power. Neither are huge punchers, but with sharpness and speeds come pain. Believe me. In a high-class, tooth-for-nail boxing match, the fighter who lands the harder shots may just sway the judges. Neither will be overly-pleased to push the action. That is one thing I'm certain of. Barnes likes to see what his opponent is bringing to the table, before he goes about taking it apart. Hare works at his own pace, cleverly landing shots to the body, and working inside. Neither are particularly fond of a jab, both like to load up. Barnes' left-hand is very quick, and sharp, so Hare must look out for that. Although both work hard in the ring, at times they can be lazy. Hare likes to rest on his laurels a bit, although when he throws flurries, he looks a million dollars. Barnes is like many counter-punchers. He throws when he wants, and the rest of the time looks busy doing nothing. Thinking about it, he could be overly-calculating. Hare won't wait on him, either. Let's hope this fight doesn't fall through at the last minute because I think we're set for a real classic here. Maybe not a slugfest, granted...but a skillfest.

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