Sweet Sixteen for Dazzling Darren by Kevin Taylor Nov 15th 2007

Dazzling Darren Barker chalked up his sixteenth win as a professional last night at the legendary York Hall in Bethnal Green and in doing so also picked up the vacant Commonwealth title at middleweight. Less than a year after his brother, Gary, was tragically killed in a car accident which had Darren considering his ring career the stylish Barnet boxer ran out a unanimous point's winner over the tough Australian Ben Crampton, who suffered his first defeat in twenty-two fights. Crampton showed plenty of heart, especially when not going down in the fourth after a rib-crunching left hook was dug in by Barker which seemed to take away the Australian's breath, but was not in the same class as Barker who added the Commonwealth belt to the Commonwealth Games gold medal he won at light-middleweight in 2002. There's no doubt that Barker oozes class and he certainly gave his vocal supporters plenty to cheer about as he breached the New South Wales man's guard time and time again with straight rights, before delivering punishing blows to the body of the Australian who was having his first contest outside of his homeland. For Barker it was only his second fight in 2007, last time out he gave a boxing lesson to Greg Barton before referee Mark Green saved the Southend pugilist in the third round, and he proved his fitness by going the full twelve rounds and on two judges cards he scored a shut out 120-108 win. Third judge Dave Parris, scored it 119-110. (Just for the record BBN had it 120-108) The doubters in the press box were still saying that Barker leaves his chin out to dry and that his whiskers may be a bit suspect, but last night on the few occasions he did get caught flush he showed no signs of distress, of course anyone who saw it can't forget the 'Bambi-legs' when Barker was caught twice by the hard-hitting Conroy McIntosh at the same venue in July 2006 or the touchdown against the returning Paul Samuels before he flattened Samuels in the same motion at Dagenham in December of last year, but as per normal even though Barker hardly put a foot wrong last night we Brits still have to put our man down. Crampton despite the twenty previous wins looked out of his depth and although he had his brother and father working in his corner, he looked overrawed at being away from Australia, every round started in the same manner with Barker snapping the Australian's head back with a piston like jab and the Barnet boy kept up the high punch rate throughout the fight. Crampton's team were already calling for him to try and land the one big shot by the sixth round knowing that there man had very little chance of overhauling the points lead that Barker had built up. After his emotional comeback last time out, once again 'Disco' Darren's fans came out in force to support their man last night and the historic building was a crescendo of noise throughout the twelve rounds, which became almost deafening in the final round after Barker beckoned his fans to make some more noise. Even the farcical ending where Barker had to wait in the ring for ten minutes before he could have his belt awarded due to television scheduling couldn't take away from Barker's great evening. Barker dedicated the win to his brother and also added that anything else he does in the boxing world would be in his brother's memory. Photo by Chris Royle

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