Martin Murray, Matthew Macklin and Darren Barker are currently ranked 1-2-3 in the Boxing Monthly's British middleweight ratings. But each, as yet, have faced each other in the ring!
First off, Matthew Macklin versus Darren Barker is a fight that should have happened just under 3-and-a-half years ago. The pair were due to meet in September 2009 to fight for the BBBofC British middleweight title, which Macklin had won in March earlier that year. Macklin though, withdrew and in the process vacated the belt, opting to fight for the vacant EBU (European) middleweight belt instead.
They were then scheduled to meet in September 12 months later, but this time with Macklin challenging Barker for his European title, which Barker had claimed in April that year. This time, it was Barker who pulled out of the fight having suffered a hip injury. Barker opted to vacate the belt which Macklin then fought for that September.
While all this was going on, Martin Murray had won his first 12 round pro bout, as he claimed the vacant commonwealth (British Empire) middleweight title in July. By the end of 2010, Murray had won the vacant WBA Inter-continental middleweight belt as well.
Going into 2011, a Macklin-Barker fight did not appear likely to happen. Instead, Barker bounced back from the hip injury that ruled him out of the rearranged date with Macklin by beating Italy's Domenico Spada in April. Barker claimed the vacant European title with that win, while Macklin lost a debatable split decision to Felix Sturm in a WBA Super World middleweight title fight in June. Also at this point, Murray had defended his WBA Inter-continental middleweight belt and also claimed the BBBofC British middleweight title too.
Sturm in a WBA Super World middleweight title fight in June. Also at this point, Murray had defended his WBA Inter-continental middleweight belt and also claimed the BBBofC British middleweight title too.
Darren Barker was sensationally offered a World title shot against WBC middleweight Diamond champion Sergio Martinez later that October. A number of opponents had apparently turned down the chance to face Martinez, but Barker and his team did not and gratefully accepted the offer. Barker subsequently lost that fight and with it his unbeaten record.
To many people's surprise, Murray was given the chance to head to Germany in Decmeber to face Felix Sturm for the WBA Super World middleweight belt. That fight ended in a draw and after his controversial loss in Germany, Macklin was awarded the chance to try to defeat the great Argentinian champion Martinez in March last year. Macklin's corner waved off the fight before round 12 with Macklin still on his stool.
James McKnight
Murray-Macklin-Barker - A Tasty Triangle Has Taken Shape!