Daniel Geale vs. Darren Barker Live Stream HBO Boxing 2013

 

Click here to Watch Daniel Geale vs. Darren Barker Live Stream HBO Boxing 2013

IBF middleweight champion Daniel "Real Deal" Geale (29-1, 15 KO) wants more, and he'll get that against "Dazzling" Darren Barker (25-1, 16 KO).

Geale has held the title since May 2011 and he has successfully defended his crown four times, but he knows he's yet to face the biggest names in the 160-pound division.

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At this point, Geale is the the least-known of the middleweight champions in the United States. WBA champion Gennady Golovkin, WBC titleholder Sergio Martinez and WBO kingpin Peter Quillin have all garnered bigger reputations than the 32-year-old Australian.

Despite his sparkling record and title, Geale knows there is more for him to accomplish.

He told Grantlee Kieza of FoxSports.com and The Courier-Mail:

"I still have so many more goals. There are many more big fights out there for me and more world titles that I want to win. I've only just started the journey."

The next step of that journey takes place on Saturday night in Geale's American debut against middleweight contender Barker. This fight represents a major opportunity for both men, but especially the champion.

It will be broadcast by HBO so the exposure would seemingly move him closer to a unification bout with Golovkin or Martinez, who are both signed with HBO.

Geale vs. Barker takes place at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City and it should be an interesting scrap.

The Real Deal isn't a notable power puncher, but he has very good fundamentals, quick feet and hands. He's shown the ability to make mid-fight adjustments and he's a very good counterpuncher.

Both of these skills were demonstrated in his split-decision win over Felix Sturm in September 2012. The Australian pulled off the near impossible by earning a decision win over Sturm in his native Germany.

At the beginning of this fight, Sturm seemed to be getting the better of Geale. Near the third round, Geale began to time Sturm's heavy jab. He slipped Sturm's primary weapon and countered with power shots, helping to change the course of that bout.

Against Barker, he'll have a similar assignment. Movement will be a key for the champion as Barker has a slight edge in power. Geale's speed and technical acumen could serve him well in this contest.

The Dazzling One is no pushover. He's a legitimate threat to dethrone Geale because of his thudding jab and body punching. The only loss of his career came at the hands of Martinez in October 2011. The WBC champion stopped him in the 11th round after using his speed and quickness to out-box him through 10.5 rounds.

Since then, Barker has stopped Kerry Hope and Simone Rotolo.

Barker doesn't possess great hand or foot speed. He bangs the body well, but has a tendency to engage with his hands too low. That led to his loss against Martinez, though he seemed to go down in a delayed reaction to a previous shot.

The key for Barker against Geale will be to attack the body early in an effort to slow the pace of the fight.

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Nathan Cleverly vs. Sergey Kovalev Live Stream HBO Boxing 2013

 

 

Click here to Watch Nathan Cleverly vs. Sergey Kovalev Live Stream HBO Boxing 2013

There are no Chad Dawsons, Jean Pascals, Adonis Stevensons or even Tavoris Clouds on his resume.

Instead, Cleverly's biggest wins have come over veteran Tony Bellew and most recently Robin Krasniqi in April. Because he hasn't fought fighters who are known stateside, he hasn't attained massive popularity outside of the United Kingdom.

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He's had just one fight in the United States. He was impressive in stopping Shawn Hawk in the eighth round of their Nov. 2012 bout from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Cleverly possesses the skill level to reach the next level of stardom, but he must up the ante in regards to his competition. He's still just 26 years old, but time is running short on referring to him as an up-and-coming fighter.

Taking on a fast-rising power puncher like Kovalev is a smart but dangerous move for Cleverly. While this bout will land him on HBO, it isn't going to bring the type of payday a fight with Hopkins would. Kovalev is a big-time puncher with an aggressive style, and he's receiving a solid push from HBO.

He'll present a significant challenge for the champion because of his explosiveness.

Cleverly's boxing prowess, length and athleticism gives him some advantages, but he doesn't bring the game-changing power that the challenger does. Though Cleverly is younger, he is far more experienced in terms of total fights, total rounds and situations.

Boxing is all about opportunities. On Saturday, WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-0, 12 KO) and Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO) will both make their HBO debut in a major clash in the 175-pound division.

Fighting in front of a national audience on HBO in Cardiff, Wales is the grandest stage either has performed on. Despite the fight being shown via tape delay prior to the Daniel Geale-Darren Barker main event, the winner of Cleverly-Kovalev could establish himself as a star.

This is an intriguing and important matchup with major implications on the future of the light heavyweight division.

Having already defended his title five times, Cleverly is not new to the world title scene. His list of opponents don't read like a who's-who of the top light heavyweights in the world, though.

He'll need to use those skills and intangibles if he hopes to defeat Kovalev.

Cleverly's solid jab and footwork will be the key early. If he can get Kovalev frustrated, he may be able to open his opponent up for counter power shots that score.

The burning question on the Cleverly side is: Can the champion make the challenger respect his power? If he can't, keeping him at bay becomes all the more difficult.

This afternoon starting at 2:00 pm EDT on BoxNation, Frank Warren's big bill from Cardiff, Wales, will go live, and Bad Left Hook will be here for live updates and results. HBO will air the show's main event on tape delay tonight at 9:45 pm EDT.

In the main event, Nathan Cleverly will face Sergey Kovalev with Cleverly's WBO light heavyweight title at stake. Both fighters are unbeaten and looking to take a step into elite status in the 175-pound division. Cleverly will have home field advantage, but Kovalev is a true danger on paper, as he has shown major league power in his recent fights broadcast on the NBC Sports Network, building some buzz.

On the undercard, we'll see two domestic title fights. Gary Buckland will defend the British super featherweight title against Stephen Smith, and Ovill McKenzie will take on Enzo Maccarinelli in a rematch of a controversial fight from last November. McKenzie's Commonwealth light heavyweight title will be on the line.

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