The Power of Now: Ten years into retirement, Darren Barker reflects on his professional career

(Interview by Declan Warrington)

BN: How is life in retirement?

DB: I smiled as you requested me that query – I’m residing the dream. It’s a bizarre feeling, contentment. I’d been driving my entire life; chasing a aim; a dream, after which it stopped. A couple of years again I began considering, “Now what?” But that’s all fallen into place properly – by some means I landed a commentary gig, which was by no means a plan. I didn’t have aspirations of being within the media, and right here I’m commentating for DAZN. I pinch myself – I stated it to Barry [Jones] throughout the Anthony Joshua card final summer time. “How mad’s this? What a great gig we’ve got.”

Boxing – improbable, so far as every thing I used to be in a position to obtain. My career now – improbable, doing a job I by no means thought I might, and I wish to assume I’m doing okay. My household life – improbable. I’m married [to Beth]; I’ve acquired 4 children [Scarlett-Rose, Charlotte, Poppy and Joe, named after Joe Calzaghe]. I attempt to set objectives however I’m very completely satisfied.

BN: Injuries undermined the latter years of your career. How comfy are you, bodily?

DB: I’m positive I’ve smashed my physique to items, however was it price it? Of course it was. I’m managing it day by day. I’ve began stretching a good bit within the morning; I keep away from sure issues. I’d wish to play extra soccer. My again tightens up; my hips damage. I can’t run any actual distance or with any actual depth. I’m getting a bit annoyed – I used to be by no means actually in a position to raise any weights, boxing – I discover it satisfying once I go to the health club however now my shoulder’s actually hurting so I’m having to cease that. It’s annoying, however a sacrifice price making.

BN: Did you earn sufficient as a fighter to retire when accidents compelled you to?

DB: Yeah, I’m in a great place. I acquired $400,000 for [Sergio] Martinez, which purchased my home; I acquired $150,000 in opposition to [Daniel] Geale, and it was €1.2m to combat [Felix] Sturm in Germany. I opened a health club – 12x3s Gym in Aldgate. I’m alright – don’t get me flawed, I want I used to be £1 behind Eddie Hearn. I’m alright although. I don’t need for a lot – so long as my children are alright.

BN: Do you’ve got any regrets?

DB: Yeah. Two within the amateurs. In the world championships in 2003 in Thailand, I boxed Andre Berto within the quarter-finals and I used to be seven factors up; I misplaced by two factors. I’ve watched that combat again 1,000,000 instances – I didn’t lose. That would have been for a bronze medal. The second one is I can by no means name myself an Olympian. The weights acquired rejigged; I’d outgrown welterweight and was too small for middleweight. I went to each main event within the amateurs, bar the Olympics [in Athens in 2004]. They don’t eat away at me, however I want I may have stated I used to be an Olympian. It’s an actual particular factor.

I don’t have regrets about [getting injured against] Sturm. My physique had been knackered for the most effective half of 10 years. I used to be content material; I wanted the cash. I believed I had sufficient to beat Sturm – I believed I’d be too busy, however my physique gave up. My hip truly got here out of its socket – it’d by no means accomplished that earlier than. It was a freak harm. I acquired again to my toes, and Tony [Sims, my trainer] threw the towel in – rightly so – and I used to be nonetheless throwing photographs. I used to be in agony, so weirdly I used to be beaming with pleasure.

BN: How a lot of a frustration is it that you simply, Matthew Macklin, Martin Murray and Andy Lee by no means fought?

DB: Sometimes the celebs have gotten to align, and every thing’s started working. We had been slated to combat twice, me and Macklin, and one apiece we needed to pull out. Would I’ve preferred these home dust-ups? Yes, of course I might. Am I gutted – do I’ve regrets that I by no means? No, I don’t. My career was higher than I may ever have dreamed of.

BN: Which of them was the most effective?

DB: The largest rival out of them was Macklin. But the most effective out of them, in all probability Andy Lee – we’re actually good associates now. We reminisce on a regular basis at reveals, sat on the commentary desks – it’s sensible. Two boys from Repton [ABC].

I genuinely consider I used to be the most effective out of all of them and I’d be very, very positive that they’d all say the identical [about themselves]. Macklin – essentially the most aggressive out of everybody. Can actually, actually punch. Martin Murray, essentially the most bodily sturdy; had an excellent defence. Andy Lee, large puncher; very awkward. I had a very good boxing mind; a good whack on me; in all probability the faster arms out of everybody.

BN: Who was the most effective you fought?

DB: Sergio Martinez [in 2011]. Very expert. Very difficult, and really skilled. I discovered quite a bit from preventing him, not simply within the ring however out of the ring. The expertise I gained actually helped me going into the Geale combat. I do know I fought nicely but when I believed in myself a bit extra I may have carried out higher, however I don’t actually have a remorse over it.

BN: How a lot do you owe your success to Tony Sims?

DB: He was completely instrumental. I respect Tony a lot – his data – and he knew extract that additional proportion from me. How to show me from a great fighter into an excellent fighter; he didn’t change me an excessive amount of. I used to be a really technically sound boxer however I wanted to alter barely as a professional and he did it completely; his coaching strategies.

I keep in mind Tony telling me that Conor [Benn] was harmless. He stated it’d be like me mendacity to him. I believed him from the off anyway however when he stated that – for those who’ve acquired the identical type of relationship that I did with Tony… It may have been very simple for Tony and Eddie [Hearn] to draw back from the Conor Benn scenario however they by no means. They had his again and so they believed of their man, and that’s what you need out of your workforce. You need individuals who have gotten your again. Eddie’s very a lot within the limelight and he may have made life simple for himself and distanced himself from Conor, however he didn’t, and nor did Tony. They believed of their man, and that confirmed how loyal they’re and the way a lot they’ve acquired your again.

BN: How a lot does being a commentator fill the void your preventing career may have left?

DB: Massively. Massively. Massively. I’ve by no means had any want [to return] – there’s by no means been an itch. I’ll all the time miss profitable – don’t get me flawed – I’ll all the time miss my arm being raised. It’s essentially the most addictive; most stunning, fantastic feeling on the planet. Or, it was again then. I’m so naturally aggressive nothing will fill that void. But, being content material and having the ability to be sat ringside, calling fights in my very own approach – I do know I’m not essentially the most articulate man on the planet, however my ardour for the game can’t be bettered – I’m residing the dream. It’s exhausting – I’m away an terrible lot – however I’d do that week in, week out. If there was a present each week it wouldn’t be sufficient for me. Just maintain ‘em coming. Get me sat behind that mic calling fights. It actually is a dream job.

BN: What’s been your spotlight to date?

DB: [Pauses]. I’m going to say [Oleksandr] Usyk-AJ at White Hart Lane, and the rationale I say that’s I used to be commentating alongside Roy Jones Jnr. Somebody who commentated on my combat [with Geale]. He was one of my favorite fighters of all time, and I’m commentating alongside him. He’s saying my identify as we’re commentating. I nonetheless assume it’s psychological. I bumped into him in Dallas. “Hey, Darren Barker, how you doing?” I feel it’s mad that he is aware of my identify. For him to be sat ringside at a packed-out soccer stadium watching Anthony Joshua take on Oleksandr Usyk – one of the greats additionally – commentating with Roy Jones. That was an actual field ticked – and it was a field that didn’t even exist. It was a field I’ve had made and it’s acquired a giant gold tick in it.

BN: How a lot do you continue to take into consideration your brother Gary?

DB: Every day. He’s the screensaver on my cellphone. I take into consideration him on a regular basis. I typically say just a little prayer in my head, or out loud. “Love you, Gal; love you, Grandad”. Always. Always. All the time. He’ll by no means be forgotten. Never, by no means be forgotten. Everyone who is aware of us as a household unit is aware of how shut all of us are. We’re all about our household – so shut. So, so shut. So, to lose my grandad and my brother was so devastating, however we take into consideration them on a regular basis. I’m all the time saying, “I love you, Gal; I love you, Grandad; blah, blah, blah”. So, each single day.

BN: How a lot does your sense of spirituality nonetheless carry you peace?

DB: I used to be introduced into a non secular household – we’re Christians. Not your typical, go-to-church Christians, however there’s an actual perception and religion there that’s helped us all when my brother [Gary] died. I’ve all the time been religious; I’ve all the time been conscious of sure feelings, and so forth – extra so now, as I become older. I’ve booked twice to go to Portugal to do an ayahuasca ceremony [ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic drink prepared from the bark of ayahuasca], however I’ve bottled it. I’ll do it sooner or later, however I’m all the time wanting into the way in which I’m feeling and others are feeling. I discover it fascinating. “Where does that emotion love come from? What is hate – where does this come from?” I’m all the time delving out and in and excited about these type of issues, on a day by day foundation.

It’s humorous the way in which the world works generally. The stars align; issues are alleged to occur. There’s sure issues I consider occur and don’t occur. I don’t consider what goes round comes round – I don’t consider in that – however generally you’re drawn to sure individuals. You can name it coincidence if you would like – I feel there’s one thing a bit deeper. That magnet, being drawn to any person. I’m a giant over-thinker, and it may be a nightmare generally, nevertheless it additionally uncovers rather a lot as nicely.

Me and Tony have been to church collectively, and had some fascinating experiences going to Canada and America. I noticed a therapist after my brother died, ‘cause I needed some help dealing with grief, and Tony was instrumental in me going to see this bloke, Bruce Lloyd, along with Tony’s good friend, and he performed a giant half in my life. He all the time referred to grief as, “A wound that needs clearing out but the clearing out process is very painful”. He acquired me on a religious journey as nicely – I keep in mind studying a really poignant guide known as The Power of Now. About staying current and never worrying an excessive amount of concerning the future or the previous. It’s a really, very exhausting process to grasp – I don’t assume you ever do grasp it – however for those who can keep current life turns into much more satisfying. It actually does. You do want issues to look ahead to, and it’s good to look again on recollections with fond ideas, however each second that passes is a reminiscence, so makes these recollections good, and also you try this by staying current and within the second. Me and Tony had quite a bit of in-depth conversations, and quite a bit of issues in frequent on the subject of faith and spirituality.