"The Blade:" The Hard-Punching Story of Iran Barkley

Iran "The Blade" Barkley was born May 6, 1960 in the Bronx. One of eight children, he was a hoodlum and gang member until his family persuaded him to turn his aggression into something constructive: thus, he took up boxing. He had a good, but not outstanding career as an amateur middleweight: 2nd place in the 1981 NYC Golden Gloves, Gold at the 1981 Empire State Games; Bronze at the 1982 World Amateur Championships and the Copenhagen Boxing Cup.

Barkley turned pro in Jaunary 1982, and the early stages of his career were not promising. For the next two years he fought (mostly in Atlantic City, NJ) to a record of 9-3. This isn't the stuff of future champions, but of journeymen. However, Barkley had the stuff to become a top world contender. At 6'1" with a 74" reach, he was a little tall for a middleweight. Barkley fought with a tough, crude, take no prisoners style and mind no hurt style. In February 1985 he fought Osley Silas in a rematch of a 1983 bout he lost. Barkley knocked Silas out, and started a big winning streak.

Barkley won his next 12 bouts, mostly by knockout, and earned a 1987 shot at the WBA middleweight title against Zaire-born, Italy-based Sumbu Kalambay. Kalambay was a master technician (he would beat Herol Graham and Mike McCallum in his career), and he readily outboxed Barkley the brawler.

However, fighters with a style like Barkley's are always popular, and after a couple of wins he found himself in a big fight with Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns. Hearns, the WBC middleweight champion, mixed sharp jabs and quick overhand rights with big left hooks to the body from the outside, busting up Barkley. The doctor was called, making it clear that the fight might be stopped on cuts. Barkley charged out in the 3rd, backed Hearns into a corner, and wailed on him. Hearns roared back with a body attack that cut Barkley in half, and that was Hearns's undoing. Slamming hard shots into Barkley's waist, the Hitman was coming forward with his guard down. Barkley smashed him with a hard right that dropped Hearns to the canvas like a doll with its strings cut. Just like that, Iran Barkley had become a middlweight champion by TKO3 over one of the greatest punchers the world had ever seen. It was The Ring's 1988 Upset of the Year.

The win over Hearns got Barkley another big fight in February 1989 against Robert Duran. However, for all his guts, Barkley was still not much of a boxer, and Duran was an 84-7 legend. Busted up again and dropped in the 11th, Barkley lost his title belt in the first defense.

Barkley was now that most gilded of commodities in boxing: a fighter with a big name, but deemed to be a "safe" opponent. In August 1989 he challenged Michael Nunn for the IBF middleweight strap, and despite Nunn spending much of the fight sticking and moving, Barkley came very close to pulling out a win. Nunn got a Majority Decision, meaning one scoredcard had the fight a draw. Then Barkley was matched with the Dark Destroyer from Britain, Nigel Benn. Meeting a guy who was tougher, dirtier, and a bigger banger than he was, Barkley was shot down in 1 Round.

Going from Losing to Winning

After a couple of minor fights, Barkley was matched with Darrin van Horn of Lexington, KY, the IBF super middleweight champion. Barkley took "The Schoolboy" through a hard lesson, knocking him down 3 times en route to a 2nd Round stoppage. This fight was followed by a rematch with Hearns, now the WBA light heavyweight champ, 2 months later. Barkley now had Hearns' number, knocking him down in the 4th and earning a Split Decision win. Barkley, the punk from the Bronx who some thought was just an overrated journeyman, had jumped from middleweight to light heavyweight and won two world titles in the space of a year.

This was followed by a match-up with James "Lights Out" Toney in 1993. Toney used his skills to outbox and bust up the gritty Barkley, who was forced to quit in the corner in the 10th. Back to being an opponent, he was knocked out by Kentucky Cruiserweight Adolpho Washington in October 1993, and then traveled to Germany to be knocked out by light heavyweight champ Henry Maske in October 1994, and then lost two more fights to mere journeymen.

From this point forward, Barkley continued to fight, but never as a contender and never again weighing less than 220lbs - 60lbs heavier than his heyday. He enjoyed a lot of wins in 1996 and 1997, but had a terribly mixed record in 1998 and 1999, and then finally retired. It was a sad close for a career that saw two victories over Hearns and world titles in three different divisions.

Sources: boxrec.com; live fight footage; YouTube; eastsideboxing.com