I used to love watching Barkley in his prime. He was a strong, aggressive fighter who fought some good boxers, but i wouldn't say he was great. My buddy seems to think so cause he beat Tommy Hearns twice. But Barkley lost to fighters like James Toney, Nigel Benn(though controversial), Michael Nunn, and Roberto Duran(in a spirited war!). What do you think of Iran as a fighter? Would love to hear the opinions of Brent F, Brad M, Toughguy, Pancho, Smitty, Santana D, and Black panther among others on this topic! I respect all you guys boxing knowledge!
2006-11-07 09:39:30 · 9 answers · asked by Cool Breeze 2 in Sports ➔ Boxing
good, not great.
2006-11-11 08:22:16 · answer #1 · answered by The Keeper of the Green 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question sir! I have a video of the Barkley vs Duran fight. What a war that was! Barkely was about as tough a fighter as you will ever see able to take tremendous punishment and turn around and deliver punishment in return. He was good enough to be champion and to beat Thomas Hearns so he was very good indeed. Great though? I don't really consider him a great fighter because he lost some fights he shouldn't have after moving up in weight class.
2006-11-07 19:07:58 · answer #2 · answered by toughguy2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Iran was a true warrior who fought some great fighters and some great fights, but i don't really consider him to be a great fighter. When you think of the great fighters of his era you think of Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, Duran, Pryor, Arguello(80's) and Toney, Roy Jones, Pernell Whitaker(90's)and fighters of that magnitude, you just don't think of Iran as a great fighter but a good, solid, tough pro who would fight anyone. Yes, he did beat Hearns twice and he's the only man that can claim that but i think Hearns was past his prime when he fought Barkley so that might take a little luster of those victories (just a little!) but Iran was certainly a good fighter but to call him great would be a stretch. One of my favorite fighters though! A warrior to the max!
2006-11-07 19:16:29 · answer #3 · answered by Pancho 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cool Breeze ~
In my opinion, Iran Barkley was a very good tough fighter who could give as well as would take, tough as nails. Great and Iran really don't belong in the same sentence except when one mentions "He fought some GREAT fighters, Herans & Duran.
There should be a special shrine built for tough as nails guys who were on the cusp of greatness or really tough Hombre's who tried so hard but never made it Meldrick Taylor, Jeff Fenech, Troy Dorsey, Rodin Blake, Freddie Roach, Doug DeWitt, Davey Hilton and a host of others and at the forefront of these really good fighters would be Iran "The Blade" Barkley.
His fights with Duran and Hearns were 80's classics that a true fight fan would never get tired of watching. Iran was good for boxing, fighting any one at any time. There's not one single person who could ever accuse Iran of Ducking anybody.
2006-11-07 18:48:05 · answer #4 · answered by Santana D 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Barkley was tough as nails fighter and a multiple champion in 3 weight classes. I wouldn't classify him as great. From what I have heard he trained hard but seemed to lose focus in some of his fights. 12 of his losses came in the last few years of his career and he lost a great many of those as a heavyweight. A case of a fighter not bringing his punch/chin up with him as he moved up in weight. I give him credit though, he did beat Hearns twice and ducked no one. The Duran fight was a classic! That he must be given credit for. I'd also put him up against a great many of today's middle, super middle and light heavies. When he was on his game, he would probably beat a great many of them.
2006-11-07 18:15:40 · answer #5 · answered by Brent 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What's up Cool Breeze? That was a hell of a nickname back in the day also it was the name of a blaxploitation movie.
Barkley - W 43 (KO's 28) TF 63 - W pct 68% - KO pct 44% - wins over Hearns{2}, G. Coetzee, M. Olajide, W. Scypion and J. Kinchen - KO'ed by Toney, Benn, Simms and others
Titles at 160, 168 and 175
Barkley was a good tough fighter with a great heart. He reminded me of Saad Muhammad, the way he could come back from the dead in a bout while crying and bleeding at the same time.
I rank him 14th of alltime as a Middle wt.
2006-11-07 21:07:21 · answer #6 · answered by smitty 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Iran was so much fun to watch. I wouldn't call him great. I would say he had a great heart and a great fighting spirit in him. Still Toney schooled him with far superior technique. Duran who was nowhere near the size and past his prime was able to give Iran all he could handle. Bottom line is Barkley could be outboxed by good boxers. His record was never great. He was a tribute to the sport but not great. I consider him very similar to Mickey Ward with maybe a little more raw talent.
How was Benn win controversial, I think Benn won by KO.
2006-11-07 18:14:11 · answer #7 · answered by Bruce Tzu 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. He was a very good fighter that was a three time champ and who beat Hearns twice, but that has to be looked at in context.
There are plenty of titles up for grabs and his wins against Hearns prove that styles make fights.
In his prime, he lost to guys like Sumbu Kalambay, Robbie Simms and Roberto Duran.
2006-11-07 22:07:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Michael Nunn was a bad *** for a little while....I believe Iran beat Hearns late in Hearns career? Iran was a puncher / brawler....reminds me a little of Hagler. He took some massive shots.
2006-11-07 17:58:01 · answer #9 · answered by Stugots 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋