The Blade
Iran Barkley
Iran Barkley was taught to box in the Bronx by his sister Yvonne. He was born on 06th May 1960 and aged twenty-one was runner-up in the New York Golden Gloves and the gold medallist in the Empire State Games as a middleweight. The following year, staying as a middleweight, he won a sliver medal at the United States Amateur Championships and gained bronze at the Copenhagen Box Cup and the World Amateur Championships in Munich.
'The Blade' turned professional in December 1982 and stopped the undefeated (3-0) Larry Jordan with a second-round TKO. He picked up his first defeat, a six-round points decision against Osley Silas, to drop to 4-1 with three stoppages.
Barkley won his next three, but at the start of 1984, he ran into the more seasoned Robbie Sims, who stopped him in the sixth round. With two more wins under his belt, he finished the year with another points defeat against Eddie Hall.
In February 1985 he gained revenge for his first defeat by stopping Osley Silas in the sixth round. 'The Blade' went on a thirteen-fight winning streak which included an eighth-round knockout of middleweight title challenger Wilford Scypion, outpointing Mike Tinley for the WBC Continental Americas middleweight title and a split decision win over James Kinchen.
The run put him in line for a shot at the vacant WBA middleweight championship against Sumbu Kalambay on 23rd October 1987. The belt was stripped from Marvin Hagler when he neglected to face mandatory challenger Herol Graham and took on Ray Leonard instead.
Barkley faced Kalambay, instead of Graham, because the former beat the latter when Kalambay successfully defended his European belt in May 1987. Kalambay was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in April 1956 and turned professional as an Italian national.
Kalambay was vastly experienced and boasted a record of 42-3-1 with twenty-five stoppages. Barkley was 22-3 (14 KO's) and four years younger, plus he was fighting in Italy, the first time he had boxed outside of the United States in his career.
The Italian outpaced the Bronx man and used his better boxing technique to nullify the American's dangerous left hook. After fifteen rounds (the final time a WBA middleweight title fight was scheduled for fifteen) all three judges favoured Kalambay to claim the title, putting a fourth defeat on 'The Blade's' ledger.
Barkley regrouped and outscored the durable Sanderline Williams in January 1988 and two months later took on IBF title challenger Michael Olajide. Frank Tate outpointed Olajide for the vacant belt in October 1987 over the full fifteen rounds, to inflict the first defeat in his career.
'The Blade' put Olajide down in the second but had to get off the canvas himself in the fourth. Barkley regained momentum when he put Olajide down in the fifth, winning by a TKO with one minute and 12 seconds of that round. The victory put him in for his second attempt at a middleweight championship, with WBC champion Thomas Hearns on 06th June 1988.
Hearns was installed as a 4-1 betting favourite and received a purse of $1.5 million, compared to the challenger's $250,000. "He's not that skillful, but he just doesn't give a damn," was Emanuel Steward's assessment of the unheralded challenger.
The champion found Barkley an easy target to hit. The challenger could take a good shot and he had sufficient power of his own, but he struggled to land anything solid on Hearns, who managed to cut the Bronx man's left eye.
Things were starting to look ominous for Barkley now in the second as Hearns was hitting him at will, upstairs, downstairs, he was starting to bust up. His left eye was holding out, but his lower lip was now bleeding. Barkley did manage to land a double left hook, though the champion was in complete control.
The ringside physician, Dr. Donald Romeo, poked his head through the ropes to examine the cut. Barkley's trainer, Al Boulden was concerned that the doctor might stop the contest at any time. "He's picking you apart. Step up the pace and just go for it."
"You want me to go for it now?" Asked a surprised Barkley.
"Go for it now," came the reply.
Barkley came out swinging his left hook with bad intentions. He knew his cuts weren't going to allow him to go the distance. He had to do what he was best at and brawl. Hearns did retaliate, but the challenger was able to get under the champion's jab and come over with his left.
Hearns dug in some solid body punches and 'The Blade' was visibly hurt and cut over the right eye now. He backed away and the champion came forward, working in more hurtful shots to the midsection. Hearns sensed the finish and the 8,541 people in attendance also felt Barkley would soon wilt under the barrage he was taking.
Then from nowhere, the challenger detonated a massive right hand on Hearns' jaw. He seemed to be falling in slow motion towards the canvas and Barkley helped him on his way with another right. Hearns was flat on his back, struggling to get in an upright position.
''He hit me with hard shots,'' said the new champion. ''But I was determined. Nothing was going to hurt me. I definitely would give Tommy a rematch. He is worthy for a rematch.''
Hearns, who embraced the victor at the post-fight press conference said: "I didn't even see the punch. I wasn't clear. I wasn't in control. Now I know how my opponents feel."
Hearns was unmarked, but Barkley had to attend Valley Hospital to have his wounds stitched.
Iran Barkley made the first defence of his title against Roberto Duran on 24th February 1989 in Las Vegas. "My ultimate point in my life right now is finishing off these legends. That's my ultimate point," said Barkley.
Referee Joe Cortez gave his instructions in English and Spanish and had trouble getting both men to touch gloves. He insisted on the champion to come back from his corner and do the customary handshake before the bout would commence.
The champion came out in the opening round to take the centre of the ring. He worked well behind his left jab; a weapon that he wasn't given much credit for. He also looked to dig in some solid left hooks to the body. The shorter challenger was very effective at making Barkley look cumbersome with his evasive capabilities.
It looked very much as if the power was with the champion, but with ten seconds remaining, Duran slipped a left and fired in a right of his own and had Barkley on unsteady legs. 'Hands of Stone' forced the American to cover up and hold Duran on the ropes. Barkley gave a defiant smile as the bell sounded and both fighters went back to their corners.
Both men traded shots throughout in what was the fight of the year. Duran was looking to slip and counter but wasn't fazed when he had to take a shot or two to land one of his own. The challenger, who was thirty-seven, was surprisingly getting stronger as the fight wore on.Duran sealed the points victory with a knockdown in round eleven. Barkley's left eye was badly swollen and a jab set up the right hand. A left hook and another right put the champion in trouble. A follow-up left missed, but 'Hands of Stone' floored the champion with a right.
Duran couldn't find the punch to finish off the younger man and had to settle for a split decision. It took an age for the verdict to be announced, as ring announcer Michael Buffer was having technical issues with his microphone. Finally, the scores were in and the 7,500 crowd heard the verdict. Judge Dave Brown voted for Barkley 116-113, whilst judge Tom Kaczmarek scored it 116-112 and Giuseppe Ferrari had it a wide 118-112 in favour of the new champion, Roberto Duran.
Since losing his WBC middleweight championship, it appeared that Iran Barkley's career was in rapid decline. He next challenged Michael Nunn for the International Boxing Federation belt in Reno, Nevada on 14th August 1989.
Nunn turned pro in December 1984 and stayed undefeated capturing the NABF middleweight championship and TKO'd the unbeaten IBF middleweight king Frank Tate in the ninth round to go 31-0 (21 KO's) in July 1988. He defended it twice, knocking out Juan Domingo Roldan and Sumbu Kalambay before locking horns with Barkley.
With an impressive performance against the former WBC champion, southpaw Nunn's career would be catapulted into the higher echelons of super-stardom and big-money bouts. However, the defending champion elected to dance with a safety-first approach, retaining his crown with a majority decision. "I gave Nunn a $1.25 million dollar pay cheque for a $0.99 performance," said a disgruntled Bob Arum.
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| A three-minute war with Nigel Benn |
The war-torn challenger was on the canvas seconds into the contest. Although he managed to shake up the younger champion, Benn's firepower got him out of jail as he floored the thirty-year-old twice more to keep his belt on the three-knockdown rule.
It would be another twelve months before 'The Blade' returned to the ring as a light-heavyweight. He was knocked down in round eight and gained an unpopular decision over Juan Hernandez. In October 1991 he scored a technical decision over Jesus Castaneda after a clash of heads in round eight opened a cut over the Mexican's eye.
In January 1992, Barkley challenged IBF super-middleweight king Darrin Van Horn. The twenty-three-year-old champion was making the second defence of the title he won off Lindell Holmes in May 1991.
At thirty-one years old, 'The Blade' was seen as blunted, but he was nothing more than ferocious.
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| Winning the IBF super-middleweight title against Darrin Van Horn |
After his crushing victory, Barkley looked right down the TV camera and challenged the new WBA light-heavyweight champion, Thomas Hearns. "Let's get it on Tommy. Don't procrastinate, let's go." Two months later his wish came true.
Many had considered these two warriors should have retired long ago, but the veterans had both produced upset victories in their previous contest. Barkley, whose IBF super-middleweight title was not up for grabs, cut an intimidating figure as he prowled the ring, waiting for the champion's entrance.
'The Blade' attired in black socks, black and red trim trunks and matching boots, his shaved skull gleaming and his genie-like goatee made him look like a villain from a child's fairy tale. His cornerman, ex-light-heavyweight king, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, was shouting motivational words into his ear.
Barkley was chomping at the bit during the introductions and the obligatory instructions from referee Mills Lane, who was working his sixty-first world title contest, said his customary phrase "Let's get it on." Lane, who was also a District Court judge, took recess during a murder trial to be the third man in the ring.
The challenger came out showing no respect for Hearns' power and bullied him to the ropes looking to get his favoured left hook in. Hearns tied him up and used his jab to get some daylight between them as Barkley had him on the ropes again, sneaking in a few rights and a left uppercut.
The champion covered up well and saw most of the punches coming as he again came off the ropes. They traded left hooks and 'The Blade' hit Hearns on the break and the champion retaliated immediately, with the referee berating both boxers and forcing them to touch gloves.
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| Barkley was relentless in the Hearns rematch |
The champion started the fourth round dancing as Barkley chased him, trying to get him on the ropes again. The crowd was reacting to the boxing skills of Hearns as he did some good work behind his jab. Finally, Barkley got his man where he wanted him and pounded away to head and body. The 'Hit Man' backed the challenger up as he landed two left hooks and a right, only to be countered to the canvas by Barkley's left hook.
Hearns was up at four and had to endure a furious battering from his adversary, who was looking to take him out. The champion rallied and battled back strongly, opening a cut over Barkley's left eye as he returned to his corner. One judge scored the round as 10-9 to Barkley, instead of the customary 10-8 when a knockdown has occurred.
It was a punishing contest for both men; Barkley, who injured his left hand in training had broken it during the fight. "Don't ask me when I broke it. I just kept throwing it and throwing it," he growled; His eyes were swollen along with the cuts. Hearns also had puffy eyes, but his battered and swollen nose wasn't broken.
When ring announcer Michael Buffer called a split decision, there were some anxious moments in the challenger's camp. Judge Chuck Giampa went for Barkley, 115-113, whilst Lou Talbot scored it in Hearns' favour 114-113. Jerry Roth also scored it 114-113 in favour of Barkley, who became an unlikely three-divisional world champion.
Barkley had fallen on hard times when he won and lost the WBC middleweight title and this time wanted to capitalise. He relinquished the WBA light-heavyweight crown and defended his IBF super-middleweight belt against James Toney in February 1993. The challenger put on a masterclass and with 'The Blade' swollen and puffy around the eyes, retired on his stool at the end of nine one-sided rounds.
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| James Toney was just too good for Barkley |
In May 1995 he ballooned up to the heavyweight division, facing and losing decisions to some obscure opposition, earning small money as a club fighter. In 1996 and 1997 he remained undefeated and fought the South African Gerrie Coetzee for the vacant World Boxing Board heavyweight title.
Coetzee was a former WBA heavyweight champion, beating Michael Dokes in September 1983 and losing it to Greg Page in his first defence in December 1984. It looked like he retired in 1986 after Frank Bruno poleaxed him inside a round, but he came back briefly in 1993, then again in January 1997.
At the age of forty-two, he faced Barkley in June 1997. Weighing 253 pounds (114.76 Kg), the South African floored Barkley in the second round. 'The Blade' fired back and eventually stopped Coetzee in the tenth round, finishing his career.
Barkley's career took a tumble, winning two out of ten and losing his last six back-to-back, which included former WBC heavyweight king Trevor Berbick in June 1999. A month after his ten-round points loss to Berbick; Barkley climbed through the ropes for the final time, getting stopped in the sixth round.
Barkley fought on in unsanctioned bouts and exhibitions and his official record reads 43-19-1 with twenty-seven knockouts. He will go down in history as a three-weight world champion and the only man to have beaten Thomas Hearns twice.
All the best fight fans
Lea
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