Iran Barkley

Iran Barkley
Iran Barkley ringside at The Oceana Club in Brighton Beach Brooklyn, April 13, 2011
Statistics
Real name	Iran Barkley
Nickname(s)	The Blade
Rated at	Middleweight Super-middleweight Light-heavyweight
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Reach	74 in (188 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	May 6, 1960
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	63
Wins	43
Wins by KO	27
Losses	19
Draws	1

Iran Barkley

Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's Boxing
World Amateur Championships
	Munich 1982	Middleweight

Iran "The Blade" Barkley (born May 6, 1960) is a former professional boxer. Barkley held world titles in the middleweight, super-middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. He holds notable wins over Wilford Scypion, Thomas Hearns, Darrin Van Horn and Gerrie Coetzee.

Early life

Iran Barkley was the youngest of eight children raised in the Patterson Houses and was a member of the Black Spades street gang in his youth, along with former heavyweight contender Mitch Green.^[1][2] Iran's sister Yvonne, who fought professionally during the late 1970s, convinced him to start boxing.^[3]

Professional career

Known as "The Blade", Barkley turned professional in December 1982, and first challenged for a world title against the highly skilled Italian Sumbu Kalambay, losing on points over fifteen rounds for the vacant WBA middleweight title 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 title 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.^[4] Following the defeat to Duran, Barkley took on undefeated Michael Nunn for the Lineal/IBF middleweight titles, 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 title against James Toney, which he lost via a corner retirement after nine rounds due to severe swelling around both eyes.

Barkley's final shot at a title would come against undefeated Henry Maske at light-heavyweight for Maske's IBF title in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany in October 1994. Barkley again lost by corner retirement after nine rounds.

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 prestigious WBB heavyweight title, a bout in which Barkley retired former WBA 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.

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 Welliver in Lapwai, Idaho at the Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center of the Nez Perce Tribe.^[5]

Current Status

Barkley has fallen on some difficult times since his retirement from boxing. Penniless and unemployed, he became homeless in November 2010 after he was evicted from his Bronx apartment. Through the support of the Bronx nonprofit BronxWorks and the Ring 10 boxing charity, the former world champion found housing and receives assistance so he can become self-supporting.^[6] Barkley currently resides in the Morrisania area of the South Bronx.^[7] He is a ringside regular at boxing matches in New York City. Barkley is a member of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.^[8] 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.^[9]

Professional boxing record

Amateur titles

• 1981 – Silver Medal (165 lb) at the New York Golden Gloves, losing to Dennis Milton
• 1981 – Gold Medal (165 lb) at the Empire State Games
• 1982 – Bronze Medal (165 lb)at the Copenhagen Box Cup in Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1982 – Bronze Medal (75 kg) at the World Championships in Munich, West Germany

Professional titles

References

1. Iran Barkley: For Better Or Worse "A Glass Half Full Type of Guy"
2. Barkley, Once a Boxing King, Now Has a One-Bedroom Kingdom
3. The Iran "The Blade" Barkley Story
4. Boxing 101, "Roberto Duran vs. Iran Barkley: VHS Classic Rewind", April 17, 2012
5. "News". Fight Beat. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
6. Boxing 101, "Ring 10 Veterans Boxing Foundation: A Beta Bomb of Brotherhood, Part 2 - Champions in Need", June 27, 2012
7. "Former champion boxer Iran Barkley gets some help off the ropes, out of homelessness from nonprofit". Nydailynews.com. 2011-04-16. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
8. "Iran Barkley". Njboxinghof.org. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
9. "The hardest word in the hardest sport. Retirement. | BoxRecNews". News.boxrec.com. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-09-27.

External links

• Professional boxing record for Iran Barkley from BoxRec