BARKER VOWS TO SHOCK MARTINEZ

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Canelo Demands $100 Million for Crawford Rematch

By Dong Secuya

When fight figures cross into nine-digit guarantees, the conversation usually turns cynica…

Darren Barker.

Challenger Darren Barker who faces middleweight Diamond Belt champion and 2010 ?Fighter of the Year? Sergio ?Maravilla? Martinez at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on Sunday, Manila Time, has vowed to shock the champion.

Pointing out that he is bigger and stronger than Martinez, Barker who is ranked No. 3 in the world by the WBC said he plans to make his size count and promises to shock the champion who keeps talking about the other fights he wants including a possible catch-weight bout with pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao.

The adviser of Martinez who brought him to the US and got him his break is international matchmaker and promoter Sampson Lewkowicz who is well known to Filipino media and fight fans. Lewkowicz claims that it was he who convinced Pacquiao's first US promoter Murad Muhammad to sign up the Filipino southpaw after watching him score a devastating 8th round knockout of WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul in December 1998 in Thailand.

Barker told Robert Ecksel of boxing.com ?he (Martinez) is in for a big shock. He is underestimating me and if he wants to do that, fine. I will make him pay for taking me lightly.?

Barker said he has ?the hunger, the spirit and the skill to beat him Martinez.?

The clash between the undefeated British Commonwealth and European champion who boasts of a record of 23-0 with 14 knockouts and WBC Diamond belt middleweight champion Martinez who banks on a 47-2-2, 26 knockout slate will be telecast on AKTV IBC Channel 13 at 9:00 p.m. on October 2.

Despite Barker?s boasts, most fight experts believe this is a stay busy fight designed to keep Martinez in shape as well as in the public eye while his handlers shop around for a worthy opponent who would bring in the big bucks.

Barker thinks otherwise saying ?It?s a fight I?m 100 percent certain I?m going to win and shock the world.

Barker?s British promoter Eddie Hearns said his prot?g? is ?a great, great performer. He?s in great spirits. He?s just so fit and he?s so strong? adding ?its more of a 50-50 fight than people think.?