Darren Barker stops Simone Rotolo after four

By Daniel Cross, Reporter

British middleweight Darren Barker has beaten veteran Italian Simone Rotolo after just four rounds.

The 30-year-old started quickly and floored his opponent in the first round after a slick combination.

Rotolo got to his feet and tried to box his way out of trouble, getting through rounds two and three, although it was Barker who was always on the front foot.

In round four the Londoner upped his work rate again, catching his 37-year-old opponent with some punishing right hands.

Rotolo was clearly dazed and was also suffering a problem with his right hand. His corner pulled him out at the end of the fourth, citing that hand injury.

Barker's victory means it is two wins from two since his world title defeat against Sergio Martinez, and should put him in the frame for a domestic clash with Andy Lee or Matthew Macklin in the summer.

Barker makes light work of Rotolo to take middleweight title at Wembley Arena

By Declan Warrington

Darren Barker secured a routine victory over Simone Rotolo and the vacant IBF Intercontinental title after the Italian was forced to withdraw before the start of the fifth round.

The middleweight, fighting for the second time in a matter of months after a cruel run of injuries, needed to make a statement with his domestic rivals also progressing and would have been underwhelmed that the opportunity to do so was taken away.

Barker is one third of a rivalry with world-title contender Matthew Macklin and next month’s WBC challenger Martin Murray and impressed with a relaxed approach at the start but soon after fought more raggedly.

Rotolo was knocked down after a flurry of punches towards the end of the first round when caught against the ropes but instead of stopping his opponent there and then, Barker lost any real polish and instead messily pursued the knockout which ultimately never came.

Edging each round if not dominating them as a more polished Barker perhaps would have done, the middleweight tested his opponent occasionally if not convincingly and was in the midst of another flurry of punches when Rotolo significantly backed off, avoiding the fight and shaking his hand in obvious pain until the end of the round came and the Italian’s corner announced his withdrawal almost instantly after.

'Macklin and Murray [who fights WBC champion Sergio Martinez on 27 April]' are looking busy now, so I’d like a fight with Andy Lee,' he said afterwards.

He told Sky Sports 2: 'I'm ready to push on now. There's the obvious domestic fights and world title fights - I'm game, I'll fight any of them. It just takes two of us to get the ball rolling and it could be rematches, trilogies, whatever.'

Source:  www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2290878/Darren-Barker-beats-Simone-Rotolo-win-IBF-Inter-Continental-middleweight-title.html

Darren Barker boosts world championship hopes with four-round win

Darren Barker stopped Italian Simone Rotolo after four rounds at Wembley to keep his middleweight world championship hopes on track.

Rotolo was unable to continue after the fourth due to a hand injury, although the 37-year-old looked to have probably had enough after enduring four torrid rounds.

An overhand right staggered Rotolo in the first round and a body shot put him to the canvas.

At that point a very early night looked in prospect, but the Italian managed to re-gather himself and get a toehold in the contest.

But the 30-year-old Barker continued to dominate and Rotolo did well to stay on his feet after being caught with a flurry of punches in the fourth. It was no great surprise when he retired on his stool, citing a hand injury.

Barker, who took his record to 25-1 with the victory, told Sky Sports: "I have been training really hard. I think I have been believing in my strength a bit more lately and calling on my experience.

"He was quite an awkward opponent. No disrespect, he didn't look a million dollars but he knew his way around the ring. It was just a case of me closing up the space, not letting him get his shots off - which he did early on to be honest - and I knew my strength would overpower him in the end.

"I felt really strong. I felt a weight above him to be honest. I feel I am ready to push on now.

"There are the obvious domestic fights and world title fights out there but this is an exciting time for me and the rest of the guys in the middleweight division. We are part of a great division, domestically and internationally.

"I am game, I will fight anyone. It could be rematches, trilogies, the lot. So it's exciting times."

Source:  www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/8553858/Darren-Barker-boosts-world-championship-hopes-with-four-round-win