Comfortable is probably the best way to describe Darren Barker’s win over Simone Rotolo at Wembley Arena.
The Barnet-born boxer was never troubled by the Italian who retired on his stool at the end of the fourth round after Barker had dominated their bout.
The 30-year-old secured the vacant IBF Inter-Continental middleweight title with ease and his next target will be a big domestic fight or possibly a world title bout.
“It is an exciting time for me and the rest of the guys in the middleweight division,” he told Sky Sports.
“We are part of a great division at the minute which is booming both domestically and internationally.
“I’m game and I will fight any of them and I am sure they will as well. It just takes two of us to get the ball rolling and then it could be anything, rematches, trilogies and the lot.”
Barker controlled his fight against Rotolo and in the opening round dropped the Italian with a strong right uppercut.
Rotolo somewhat regained his composure but never looked likely to cause Barker any danger.
Barker picked his shots well in rounds two and three and connected in the fourth with a well-timed shot which again rocked his opponent.
Barker continued to dictate and he showed good variety in his punches.
It proved too much for Rotolo. The 37-year-old retired with a hand injury. Barker had sealed his second win in the space of four months.
He said: “He (Rotolo) was quite an awkward opponent. No disrespect but he didn’t look a million dollars but he knew his way around the ring.
“It was a case of me closing up the space and not letting him get his shots off, which he did early on to be honest.
“I knew my strength would overpower him in the end.”
He added: “I was really getting into the fight and just taking everything he had in the gloves. I felt really strong and I felt a weight above him to be honest.
“I think it was the right decision. He can have a fairly comfortable flight home to Italy.”
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