Iran Barkley
Encyclopedia
Iran Barkley is a retired American professional boxer
who held world titles at three different weights—middleweight
(1988–89), super middleweight
(1992) and light heavyweight
(1992).
, losing on points over fifteen rounds for the vacant WBA
middleweight championship in Livorno, Toscana, Italy in October 1987.
Barkley returned in 1988 with a split decision over Sanderline Williams and a fifth round stoppage of Michael Olajide, before winning the WBC
middleweight championship with a third round knockout of Thomas Hearns
, voted 1988 Upset of the Year by Ring magazine
.
In his next fight, Barkley lost his title via split decision
in a 12 round war with Roberto Durán
, in a fight proclaimed 1989 Fight of the Year
by Ring Magazine. Following the defeat to Duran, Barkley took on undefeated Michael Nunn
for the IBF
middleweight title, dropping a close majority decision
. He next fought Nigel Benn
in a challenge for the WBO middleweight title and was stopped on the three knockdown rule at the end of a wild first round in which both fighters were hurt.
Barkley returned with two low-key wins at light heavyweight in 1991, then defeated Darrin Van Horn
to win the IBF super middleweight title in two rounds in January 1992 in Paramount Theatre, New York. Just two months later, he went on to again defeat Hearns and take his WBA light heavyweight title via a twelve round split decision. Barkley never defended that title, choosing instead to defend his super middleweight belt against James Toney
, losing his title via a corner retirement after nine rounds.
Barkley's final shot at a title would come against undefeated Henry Maske
at light heavyweight for Maske's IBF belt in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany in October 1994. Barkley lost via 9th round TKO.
Barkley continued to fight after this loss, eventually moving up to the heavyweight division. His last fight of note was a June 1997 win for the bogus WBB world heavyweight title, a bout in which Barkley retired former world heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee
with a 10th round TKO. Barkley 'retired' in 1999 after losing a bout in Mississippi
by sixth round stoppage to Keith McKnight.
in Lapwai, Idaho
at the Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center of the Nez Perce Tribe.
. He is a ringside regular at boxing matches in New York City
. Barkley is a member of the New Jersey
Boxing Hall of Fame. Barkley enjoys teaching boxing skills to young amateurs. A May 20, 2011, online article on Boxrec News hinted Barkley is seriously considering making a comeback in the ring at age 51.
|-
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who held world titles at three different weights—middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
(1988–89), super middleweight
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
(1992) and light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
(1992).
Professional career
Known as "The Blade", Barkley first challenged for a world title against the highly skilled Sumbu KalambaySumbu Kalambay
Sumbu "Patrizio" Kalambay is a Zaire-Italian former professional boxer who held the WBA middleweight championship. He was born in Zaire, moving to Italy during his youth, which is where he still resides.-Professional career:...
, losing on points over fifteen rounds for the vacant WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
middleweight championship in Livorno, Toscana, Italy in October 1987.
Barkley returned in 1988 with a split decision over Sanderline Williams and a fifth round stoppage of Michael Olajide, before winning the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
middleweight championship with a third round knockout of Thomas Hearns
Thomas Hearns
Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is a retired American boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions...
, voted 1988 Upset of the Year by Ring magazine
The Ring (magazine)
The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication...
.
In his next fight, Barkley lost his title via split decision
Split decision
A split decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which two of the three judges score for the same fighter as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other...
in a 12 round war with Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
, in a fight proclaimed 1989 Fight of the Year
Ring Magazine fights of the year
The Ring was established in 1922 and since 1945, it has named a Fight of the Year.-1940s:*1945 - Rocky Graziano KO 10 Red Cochrane I*1946 - Tony Zale KO 6 Rocky Graziano I*1947 - Rocky Graziano KO 6 Tony Zale II...
by Ring Magazine. Following the defeat to Duran, Barkley took on undefeated Michael Nunn
Michael Nunn
Michael Nunn is a former American boxer. Nicknamed "Second to Nunn," he was a 6' 2" southpaw with great speed. Nunn was the IBF middleweight champion and the WBA super middleweight champion...
for the IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
middleweight title, dropping a close majority decision
Majority decision
A majority decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking...
. He next fought Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
in a challenge for the WBO middleweight title and was stopped on the three knockdown rule at the end of a wild first round in which both fighters were hurt.
Barkley returned with two low-key wins at light heavyweight in 1991, then defeated Darrin Van Horn
Darrin Van Horn
Darrin Van Horn was a professional boxer and a world champion in two weight divisions.Van Horn turned professional in 1984, just five days before his 16th birthday...
to win the IBF super middleweight title in two rounds in January 1992 in Paramount Theatre, New York. Just two months later, he went on to again defeat Hearns and take his WBA light heavyweight title via a twelve round split decision. Barkley never defended that title, choosing instead to defend his super middleweight belt against James Toney
James Toney
James Nathanial Toney is an American professional boxer who has held world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight divisions. Toney currently fights in the heavyweight division in boxing and also now competes in mixed martial arts.-Boxing career:Toney's amateur boxing...
, losing his title via a corner retirement after nine rounds.
Barkley's final shot at a title would come against undefeated Henry Maske
Henry Maske
Henry Maske is a German boxer, one of Germany's most popular sports figures.-Amateur career:Maske was an Olympic Gold Medalist 1988 in Seoul for East Germany...
at light heavyweight for Maske's IBF belt in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany in October 1994. Barkley lost via 9th round TKO.
Barkley continued to fight after this loss, eventually moving up to the heavyweight division. His last fight of note was a June 1997 win for the bogus WBB world heavyweight title, a bout in which Barkley retired former world heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee
Gerrie Coetzee
Gerhardus Christian Coetzee , better known as Gerrie Coetzee, is a South African former boxer. He made history twice: he was the first boxer from the African continent ever to fight for the World Heavyweight Title, and the first to win the World Heavyweight Title...
with a 10th round TKO. Barkley 'retired' in 1999 after losing a bout in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
by sixth round stoppage to Keith McKnight.
Comeback
In 2006, at the age of 46, Barkley won an unsanctioned bout by second round stoppage in Aruba. In 2008, at age 48, Barkley fought to a six round draw in an unsanctioned exhibition bout against heavyweight Chauncy WelliverChauncy Welliver
Chauncy Welliver is a heavyweight boxer from Spokane, Washington who also lives in and represents Auckland, New Zealand. He has a career record of 50-5-5. In the October 2011 WBO Rankings, Welliver is the #10 rated Heavy Weight in the world. He is also rated the #8 HW in the world by the WBC...
in Lapwai, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
at the Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center of the Nez Perce Tribe.
Current Status
Barkley currently resides in the Morrisania area of the South BronxSouth Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
. He is a ringside regular at boxing matches in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Barkley is a member of the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Boxing Hall of Fame. Barkley enjoys teaching boxing skills to young amateurs. A May 20, 2011, online article on Boxrec News hinted Barkley is seriously considering making a comeback in the ring at age 51.
Films
Barkley will be featured in the forthcoming boxing documentary "Fallen Soldier", which is directed by Bobby Razak.|-
Amateur career
- 1981 – Silver Medal (165 lb) at the New York Golden Gloves, losing to Dennis MiltonDennis MiltonDennis Milton is a retired American boxer.- Amateur career :Milton had a stellar amateur career, having won four New York Golden Gloves Championships. Milton won the 1981 165 lb Open Championship and won the 156 lb Open Championships in 1982, 1983 and 1984...
- 1981 – Gold Medal (165 lb) at the Empire State Games
- 1982 – Bronze Medal (165 lb)at the CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
Box Cup in CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... - 1982 – Bronze Medal (75 kg) at the World Championships1982 World Amateur Boxing ChampionshipsThe Men's 1982 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Munich, West Germany from May 4 to 15. The third edition of this competition, held two years before the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, was organised by the world governing body for amateur boxing AIBA.- Medal winners...
in MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....