Exclusive interview by James Slater – If you ever needed proof that the warrior spirit NEVER leaves some pro fighters, you need only look at, or listen to, Bronx legend and former three-weight world champion Iran Barkley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4z-07CnkrU
Heaven knows, the decade that was the 1980’s saw some truly magical, beautifully epic and violent middleweight wars unfold in the ring.
Many years ago, live on air when calling the ferocious, bad blood battle between middleweights Roberto Duran and Iran Barkley, commentators Gil Clancy and Al Bernstein had a bet: would “Hands of Stone” and “The Blade” embrace or shake hands at the conclusion of their intense fight?
There seems little to no chance it would be permitted to happen, not in an officially sanctioned fight anyway, but former three-weight champ Iran Barkley says he is to launch a comeback – “probably at cruiserweight, maybe at heavyweight” – in the near future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipCPw6H2Lqk
Iran Barkley, who today celebrates his 58th birthday, gave his all in the ring every time out and the fans loved him for it – in fact, they still do.
As he is often fond of saying whenever he grants an interview, former three-weight champion Iran Barkley never had things easy during his career.
On this day 26 years ago, inside a packed Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey, two bitter middleweight rivals went to war over 12 absolutely thrilling rounds.
Just over 25-years ago, Iran “The Blade” Barkley, he of the mean streets of The Bronx, met Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, he of the equally tough neighbourhoods of Detroit – and a sensational middleweight title fight was witnessed.