Barkley never came across to me as a special fighter. The first Hearns fight he was lucky as hell because he was battered and beaten before knocking Hearns out in the 3rd. Obviously, with the psychological edge and self-confidence, he won their second fight as well. Let's not forget, he won the first fight with a heavy heart. His boy Davey Moore was killed by his own car just days before the fight (Kinda like Buster Douglas fighting for his mom). Barkley was a crowd pleaser no doubt but he was crude and fairly average, in my opinion. He is a Bronx guy like myself and I was happy as hell when he won the title. I still remember the mural they made for him in the project where he grew up after the Hearns fight.
Barkley's 1 "Special" Quality was TOUGHNESS, which Allowed him to OVERACHIEVE, Given the Lack of Talent he Had...Dude was TOUGH & Could BANG a Bit...No More, No Less... Faaaaaaaaaar MORE TALENTED Fighters have Achieved Faaaaaaaaaaar LESS than Iran Barkley has... REED:hammert:
