Professional Career
Known as "The Blade", Barkley first challenged for a world title against the highly skilled Sumbu Kalambay, losing on points over fifteen rounds for the vacant WBA middleweight championship 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 championship 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 IBF middleweight title, 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 belt against James Toney, losing his title via a corner retirement after nine rounds.
Barkley's final shot at a title would come against undefeated Henry Maske at light heavyweight for Maske's IBF belt in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany in October 1994. 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 June 1997 win for the bogus WBB world heavyweight title, a bout in which Barkley retired former world 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.
Read more about this topic: Iran Barkley
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