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	(1960-05-06) 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. Iran's sister Yvonne, who fought professionally during the late 1970s, convinced him to start boxing.

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. 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 bogus 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.

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. Barkley currently resides in the Morrisania area of the South Bronx. 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.

Professional boxing record

43 Wins (27 KOs), 19 Losses (7 KOs), 1 Draw [1]
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	43-19-1	Keith McKnight	TKO	6 (10), 2:47	31/07/1999	Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi
Loss	43-18-1	Trevor Berbick	UD	8	29/06/1999	Molson Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Loss	43-17-1	Tony Halme	SD	12	19/04/1999	Helsinki, Finland
Loss	43-16-1	Thomas Williams	TKO	4 (?), ?	19/03/1999	SE Livestock Pavilion, Ocala, Florida
Loss	43-15-1	Joey Guy	PTS	10	27/01/1999	Nashville, Tennessee
Loss	43-14-1	Tue Bjorn Thomsen	UD	6	06/11/1998	K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Win	43-13-1	Caseny Truesdale	TKO	4 (10), ?	22/10/1998	Roxy Theater, Atlanta, Georgia
Draw	42-13-1	Dan Kosmicki	TD	4 (8), 1:23	30/09/1998	Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri
Loss	42-13	Tony LaRosa	UD	10	22/08/1998	Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois
Win	42-12	Marcelo Aravena	TKO	3 (?), ?	13/09/1997	Mandan, North Dakota
Win	41-12	Gerrie Coetzee	TKO	10 (12), 2:07	08/06/1997	Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California
Win	40-12	Dave Fiddler	KO	1 (?), ?	22/01/1997	Lucky Eagle Casino, Rochester, Washington
Win	39-12	Caseny Truesdale	TKO	4 (6), 1:32	20/11/1996	The Ritz, Raleigh, North Carolina
Win	38-12	Frankie Hines	TKO	1 (?), ?	14/11/1996	Virginia Beach, Virginia
Win	37-12	Dan Kosmicki	UD	8	06/09/1996	Casino Omaha, Onawa, Iowa
Win	36-12	Craig Payne	MD	8	27/07/1996	Lucky Eagle Casino, Rochester, Washington
Win	35-12	Brian Yates	UD	8	03/06/1996	Marriott Allis Plaza Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri
Win	34-12	James Baker	TKO	1 (8), 1:00	02/02/1996	Marriott Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa
Loss	33-12	Rocky Gannon	MD	8	18/08/1995	Aladdin Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss	33-11	Tosca Petridis	UD	10	14/05/1995	The Glasshouse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Loss	33-10	Henry Maske	RTD	9 (12), 3:00	08/10/1994	Gerry Weber Stadium, Halle, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	For IBF light-heavyweight title.
Win	33-9	Gary Butler	UD	8	22/07/1994	Brady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Win	32-9	Rick Enis	TKO	4 (?), ?	24/05/1994	Brady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Loss	31-9	Adolpho Washington	TKO	6 (10), 0:33	20/10/1993	Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi
Win	31-8	Dino Stewart	TKO	9 (?), ?	30/08/1993	Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri
Loss	30-8	James Toney	RTD	9 (12), 3:00	13/02/1993	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	Lost IBF super-middleweight title.
Win	30-7	Robert Folley	KO	4 (10), 2:48	05/12/1992	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	29-7	Thomas Hearns	SD	12	20/03/1992	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada	Won WBA light-heavyweight title.
Win	28-7	Darrin Van Horn	TKO	2 (12), 1:33	10/01/1992	Paramount Theatre, New York, New York	Won IBF super-middleweight title.
Win	27-7	Jesus Castaneda	TD	8	03/10/1991	Four Seasons Arena, Great Falls, Montana
Win	26-7	Juan Hernandez	UD	10	16/08/1991	Hacienda Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss	25-7	Nigel Benn	TKO	1 (12), 2:57	18/08/1990	Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada	For WBO middleweight title.
Loss	25-6	Michael Nunn	MD	12	14/08/1989	Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada	For Lineal/IBF middleweight titles.
Loss	25-5	Roberto Duran	SD	12	24/02/1989	Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Lost WBC middleweight title. The Ring 1989 Fight of the Year.
Win	25-4	Thomas Hearns	TKO	3 (12), 2:39	06/06/1988	Las Vegas Hilton, Hilton Center, Las Vegas, Nevada	Won WBC middleweight title. The Ring 1988 Upset of the Year.
Win	24-4	Michael Olajide	TKO	5 (10), 1:21	06/03/1988	Felt Forum, New York, New York
Win	23-4	Sanderline Williams	SD	10	29/01/1988	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	22-4	Sumbu Kalambay	UD	15	23/10/1987	Palazzo Dello Sport, Livorno, Toscana, Italy	For vacant WBA middleweight title.
Win	22-3	Jorge Amparo	UD	10	03/04/1987	Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	21-3	Stacy McSwain	UD	10	20/02/1987	Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	20-3	James Kinchen	SD	10	17/10/1986	Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win	19-3	Basante Blanco	TKO	4 (10), -	24/07/1986	Felt Forum, New York, New York
Win	18-3	Tony Harrison	KO	3 (12), ?	19/06/1986	Felt Forum, New York, New York	Retained WBC Continental Americas middleweight title.
Win	17-3	Mike Tinley	SD	12	06/12/1985	Felt Forum, New York, New York	Won WBC Continental Americas middleweight title.
Win	16-3	Wilford Scypion	KO	8 (10), 2:59	01/11/1985	Felt Forum, New York, New York
Win	15-3	Norberto Sabater	KO	2 (10), 1:21	29/08/1985	Felt Forum, New York, New York
Win	14-3	Bill Lee	TKO	3 (10), ?	08/08/1985	Felt Forum, New York, New York
Win	13-3	Carlos Betancourt	KO	1 (10), 1:48	11/07/1985	Felt Forum, New York, New York
Win	12-3	Randy Smith	UD	10	24/05/1985	Felt Forum, New York, New York
Win	11-3	Norberto Sabater	TKO	2 (8), 2:25	26/04/1985	Felt Forum, New York, New York
Win	10-3	Osley Silas	TKO	6 (8), 2:25	21/02/1985	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	9-3	Eddie Hall	SD	8	01/11/1984	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	9-2	John Ford	TKO	5 (8), ?	23/08/1984	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	8-2	Esteban Pizzarro	UD	10	05/07/1984	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	7-2	Robbie Sims	KO	6 (10), 2:21	06/01/1984	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	7-1	Marciano Bernardi	TKO	1 (?), ?	15/12/1983	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	6-1	Frank Minton	TKO	5 (?), 1:21	18/08/1983	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	5-1	Jose Torres	UD	6	18/06/1983	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	4-1	Osley Silas	PTS	6	31/03/1983	Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	4-0	Donnie Franklin	UD	4	18/02/1983	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	3-0	Donnie Williams	TKO	1 (4), ?	29/01/1983	Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	2-0	Bruce Starling	KO	2 (4), ?	06/01/1983	Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	1-0	Larry Jordan	KO	2 (4), ?	09/12/1982	Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Professional debut.

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

Achievements
Preceded by Thomas Hearns	WBC Middleweight Champion 6 Jun 1988 – 24 Feb 1989	Succeeded by Roberto Durán
Preceded by Darrin Van Horn	IBF Super Middleweight Champion 10 Jan 1992– 13 Feb 1993	Succeeded by James Toney
Preceded by Thomas Hearns	WBA Light Heavyweight Champion 20 Mar 1992 – 1992 Vacated	Succeeded by Virgil Hill
Titles in pretence
Vacant Title last held by Herbie Hide	World Heavyweight Champion WBB recognition 8 June 1997 – 1997 Vacated	Succeeded by Mika Kihlstrom
Awards
Preceded by Sugar Ray Leonard W12 Marvelous Marvin Hagler	The Ring Magazine Upset of the Year W10 Roberto Duran 1989	Succeeded by Rene Jacquot W12 Donald Curry
Preceded by Vinny Paz	The Ring Magazine Comeback of the Year 1992	Succeeded by Zack Padilla

External links

• Professional boxing record for Iran Barkley from BoxRec