Iran Barkley

Iran Barkley (born May 6, 1960 in Bronx, New York) was an American boxer.

Professional career

Known as "The Blade", Barkley fought in several of the defining fights in the late 1980s and early 1990s in the Middleweight and Super Middleweight weight classes, but never appeared to reach the full potential he flashed in these fights. Fact|date=February 2008

Barkley became the WBC Middleweight Champion of the World by TKO of Thomas Hearns in 1988, 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 Duran, 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. Next he fought Nigel Benn for the WBO Middleweight Title and was TKO'd at the end of a wild first round with both fighters hurt. Barkley moved up to the Super Middleweight division and beat Darrin Van Horn for the IBF belt in 1992. He went on to again defeat Hearns later that year for the WBA Light Heavyweight title. He never defended that title, choosing instead to defend his Super Middleweight belt against James Toney. He lost that belt to Toney via 10th round TKO. Barkley's final shot at a title would come against undefeated Henry Maske at light heavyweight, for Maske's IBF Light Heavyweight Title. 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 1997 fight against aged Gerrie Coetzee, a fight which Barkley won by 10th round TKO. Shortly afterward, Barkey's career ended in 1999 after a string of six consecutive losses, including a defeat to Trevor Berbick.

Comeback

At the age of 47, Barkley announced a comeback to take place in Lapwai, Idaho at the Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center of the Nez Perce Tribe. [ [http://www.fightnews.com/richardson257.htm Boxing News - 24 hours/day - Reload often! ] ] The card was subsequently canceled. [ [http://www.fightnews.com/fightnews_2/headlines//EkpFlkpFlZKpFDmDTM.html Boxing News - Fightnews.com : EkpFlkpFlZKpFDmDTM ] ]

Films

Barkley will be featured in the forthcoming boxing documentary "Fallen Soldier," which is directed by Bobby Razak. [http://www.filmbaby.com/films/2535]

###@@@KEY@@@###Succession box
before=Thomas Hearns
title=WBC Middleweight Champion
after=Roberto Duran
years=6 Jun 1988 – 24 Feb 1989Succession box
before=Darrin Van Horn
title=IBF Super Middleweight Champion
after=James Toney
years=10 Jan 1992– 13 Feb 1993Succession box
before=Thomas Hearns
title=WBA Light Heavyweight Champion

after=Virgil Hill
years=20 Mar 1992– 1992
Vacates

Amateur career

*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)Dubious|date=March 2008 at the Copenhagen Box Cup
*1982 – Bronze Medal (75 kg) at the World Championships in Munich, West Germany

See also

*List of boxing triple champions‎
*List of boxing quadruple champions

External links

*

References