Sergio Martinez-Darren Barker Scheduled for Oct. 1
Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, the 2010 consensus “Fighter of the Year”, is scheduled to make his third title defense against London-native Darren Barker on Oct. 1, promoter Lou DiBella announced to ESPN.com.
Barker and promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, who spent the better part of the year requesting a fight with Martinez, began quick negotiations with DiBella on Monday, June 13 through Twitter. After DiBella exhausted other possibilities, he and Hearn got on the phone and established a contract, which still awaits signatures.
“I’ve known Eddie since he was 11. Easy to make the deal,” DiBella told ESPN.com. “They’ve been wanting the fight and Sergio is willing to fight anyone. Barker has been calling out Sergio and he’s a pleasing TV fighter”
Although Barker was not DiBella’s first option, with offers being extended to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Daniel Geale, Miguel Cotto and Paul Williams, he believes that the British brawler offers the fans just as an exciting fight, if not more.
“He’ll come at Sergio and I think it will be an exciting fight, and there will be a lot of international interest, especially in the U.K. Barker’s never been beaten and he’s popular in England,” DiBella said. “He’ll have more people travel to the U.S. for this fight than travel here for (British world titleholders) Carl Froch or Amir Khan fights.”
In addition, DiBella announced he is currently organizing details with Home Box Office (HBO), who have carried Martinez’s past six bouts.
“This is the fight we are doing,” DiBella said. “We met with HBO, they know our intention and our meetings have been positive. They know the situation. They are well aware that the fight has been offered to many top opponents. I believe we will have a deal with HBO completed this week.”
The bout, which now awaits a venue, will likely take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., Las Vegas or in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, according to DiBella.
—Alex Neely, ROUND1MAG.COM
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