Iran Barkley

Iran Barkley is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1982 to 1999. He held world championships in three weight classes, including the World Boxing Council middleweight title from 1988 to 1989, the International Boxing Federation super middleweight title from 1992 to 1993, and the World Boxing Association light heavyweight title in 1992. As an amateur boxer, Barkley won a bronze medal in the middleweight division at the 1982 World Championships.

Early life and family

Iran Barkley was the youngest of eight children raised in the Patterson Houses. His parents were Frank Barkley, Sr. and Georgia Barkley. He was a member of the Black Spades street gang in his youth, along with former heavyweight contender Mitch Green. Iran's sister Yvonne, who boxed professionally during the late 1970s, convinced him to start boxing when he was 13 years old, training under Bobby Miles and Connie Bryant.
He is the great-uncle of NFL running back Saquon Barkley.

Amateur achievements

1981 – Silver Medal at the New York Golden Gloves, losing to Dennis Milton
1981 – Gold Medal at the Empire State Games
1982 – Bronze Medal at the Copenhagen Box Cup in Copenhagen, Denmark
1982 – Bronze Medal at the World Championships in Munich, West Germany
Professional career

Known as "The Blade", Barkley turned professional in December 1982, and first challenged for a world title against the highly skilled Italian Sumbu Kalambay, losing on points over fifteen rounds for the vacant WBA middleweight title 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 title with a third-round knockout of Thomas Hearns, voted 1988 Upset of the Year by The 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 and lineal middleweight titles, 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.
After losing to Benn, Barkley underwent surgery for a detached retina and was inactive for a year. 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 vacated the title without defending it, choosing instead to defend his super middleweight title against IBF and lineal middleweight champion James Toney. Barkley reportedly had trouble getting back down to the 168 lb weight limit and lost his IBF title via a corner retirement after nine rounds due to severe swelling around both eyes.
Barkley's final shot at a title would come against undefeated Henry Maske at light heavyweight for Maske's IBF title in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany in October 1994. Barkley again lost by corner retirement after nine rounds.
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 WBB heavyweight title, a bout in which Barkley retired former WBA 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.

Comeback

In 2006, at the age of 46, Barkley won an unsanctioned bout by second-round stoppage in Aruba. In 2008, at age 48, Barkley fought to a six-round draw in an unsanctioned exhibition bout against heavyweight Chauncy Welliver in Lapwai, Idaho at the Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center of the Nez Perce Tribe.

Personal life

Barkley's first child was born to Barkley's common law wife Pam in 1981. He has four children and has been divorced twice.
Barkley has fallen on some difficult times since his retirement from boxing. Penniless and unemployed, he became homeless in November 2010 after he was evicted from his Bronx apartment. Through the support of the Bronx nonprofit BronxWorks and the Ring 10 boxing charity, he found housing and receives assistance so he can become self-supporting.
Barkley resides in the Morrisania area of the South Bronx.
Barkley enjoys teaching boxing skills to young amateurs.
He is a ringside regular at boxing matches in New York City.
Barkley's great-nephew, Saquon Barkley, is an NFL running back who was selected with the second pick in the 2018 NFL draft, and won NFL Offensive Player of the Year after a record-breaking 2024 season.

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
63	Loss		Keith McKnight	TKO	6, 2:47	Jul 31, 1999	Lady Luck Casino, Lula, Mississippi, U.S.
62	Loss	43–18–1	Trevor Berbick	UD	8	Jun 29, 1999	Molson Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
61	Loss	43–17–1	Tony Halme	SD	12	Apr 19, 1999	Ice Hall, Helsinki, Finland	For vacant WBF Americas heavyweight title
60	Loss	43–16–1	Thomas Williams	TKO	4	Mar 19, 1999	Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, Ocala, Florida, U.S.
59	Loss	43–15–1	Joey Guy	PTS	10	Jan 27, 1999	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
58	Loss	43–14–1	Tue Bjørn Thomsen	UD	6	Nov 6, 1998	K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
57	Win	43–13–1	Caseny Truesdale	TKO	4	Oct 22, 1998	Roxy Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
56	Draw	42–13–1	Dan Kosmicki		4, 1:23	Sep 30, 1998	Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
55	Loss	42–13	Tony LaRosa	UD	10	Aug 22, 1998	Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, U.S.
54	Win	42–12	Marcelo Aravena	TKO	3	Sep 13, 1997	Mandan, North Dakota, U.S.
53	Win	41–12	Gerrie Coetzee	TKO	10, 2:07	Jun 8, 1997	Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
52	Win	40–12	Dave Fiddler	KO	1	Jan 22, 1997	Lucky Eagle Casino, Rochester, Washington, US..
51	Win	39–12	Caseny Truesdale	TKO	4, 1:32	Nov 20, 1996	The Ritz, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
50	Win	38–12	Frankie Hines	TKO	1	Nov 14, 1996	Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
49	Win	37–12	Dan Kosmicki	UD	8	Sep 6, 1996	Casino Omaha, Onawa, Iowa, U.S.
48	Win	36–12	Craig Payne	MD	8	Jul 27, 1996	Lucky Eagle Casino, Rochester, Washington, U.S.
47	Win	35–12	Brian Yates	UD	8	Jun 3, 1996	Marriott Allis Plaza Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
46	Win	34–12	James Baker	TKO	1, 1:00	Feb 2, 1996	Marriott Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
45	Loss	33–12	Rocky Gannon	MD	8	Aug 18, 1995	The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
44	Loss	33–11	Tosca Petridis	UD	10	May 14, 1995	Sports and Entertainment Centre, Melbourne, Australia
43	Loss	33–10	Henry Maske	RTD	9, 3:00	Oct 8, 1994	Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle, Germany	For IBF light heavyweight title
42	Win	33–9	Gary Butler	UD	8	Jul 22, 1994	Brady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma
41	Win	32–9	Rick Enis	TKO	4	May 24, 1994	Brady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
40	Loss	31–9	Adolpho Washington	TKO	6, 0:33	Oct 20, 1993	Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
39	Win	31–8	Dino Stewart	TKO	9	Aug 30, 1993	Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
38	Loss	30–8	James Toney		9, 3:00	Feb 13, 1993	Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	Lost IBF super middleweight title
37	Win	30–7	Robert Folley	KO	4, 2:48	Dec 5, 1992	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
36	Win	29–7	Thomas Hearns	SD	12	Mar 20, 1992	Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	Won WBA light heavyweight title
35	Win	28–7	Darrin Van Horn	TKO	2, 1:33	Jan 10, 1992	Paramount Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S.	Won IBF super middleweight title
34	Win	27–7	Jesus Castaneda		8	Oct 3, 1991	Four Seasons Arena, Great Falls, Montana, U.S.	Unanimous TD: Castaneda cut from an accidental head clash
33	Win	26–7	Juan Hernandez	UD	10	Aug 16, 1991	Hacienda Resort Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
32	Loss	25–7	Nigel Benn	TKO	1, 2:57	Aug 18, 1990	Bally's Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	For WBO middleweight title
31	Loss	25–6	Michael Nunn		12	Aug 14, 1989	Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.	For IBF middleweight title
30	Loss	25–5	Roberto Durán	SD	12	Feb 24, 1989	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	Lost WBC middleweight title
29	Win	25–4	Thomas Hearns	TKO	3, 2:39	Jun 6, 1988	Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.	Won WBC middleweight title
28	Win	24–4	Michael Olajide	TKO	5, 1:21	Mar 6, 1988	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
27	Win	23–4	Sanderline Williams	SD	10	Jan 29, 1988	Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
26	Loss	22–4	Sumbu Kalambay	UD	15	Oct 23, 1987	Palazzo dello Sport, Livorno, Italy	For vacant WBA middleweight title
25	Win	22–3	Jorge Amparo	UD	10	Apr 3, 1987	Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24	Win	21–3	Stacy McSwain	UD	10	Feb 20, 1987	Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
23	Win	20–3	James Kinchen	SD	10	Oct 17, 1986	Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
22	Win	19–3	Basante Blanco	RTD	4, 0:01	Jul 24, 1986	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
21	Win	18–3	Tony Harrison	KO	3, 2:06	Jun 19, 1986	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.	Won vacant WBC Continental Americas middleweight title
20	Win	17–3	Mike Tinley	SD	12	Dec 6, 1985	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.	Won vacant WBC Continental Americas middleweight title
19	Win	16–3	Wilford Scypion	KO	8, 2:59	Nov 1, 1985	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
18	Win	15–3	Norberto Sabater	KO	2, 1:21	Aug 29, 1985	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
17	Win	14–3	Bill Lee	TKO	3, 1:58	Aug 8, 1985	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
16	Win	13–3	Carlos Betancourt	KO	1, 1:48	Jul 11, 1985	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
15	Win	12–3	Randy Smith	UD	10	May 24, 1985	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
14	Win	11–3	Norberto Sabater	TKO	2, 2:25	Apr 26, 1985	Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
13	Win	10–3	Osley Silas	TKO	6, 2:25	Feb 21, 1985	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
12	Loss	9–3	Eddie Hall		8	Nov 1, 1984	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
11	Win	9–2	John Ford	TKO	5	Aug 23, 1984	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10	Win	8–2	Esteban Pizzarro	UD	8	Jul 5, 1984	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
9	Loss	7–2	Robbie Sims	TKO	6, 2:21	Jan 6, 1984	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
8	Win	7–1	Marciano Bernardi	TKO	1, 2:27	Dec 15, 1983	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
7	Win	6–1	Frank Minton	TKO	5, 1:21	Aug 18, 1983	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6	Win	5–1	Jose Torres	UD	6	Jun 18, 1983	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
5	Loss	4–1	Osley Silas		6	Mar 31, 1983	Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Donnie Franklin		4	Feb 18, 1983	Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Donnie Williams	TKO	1, 2:45	Jan 29, 1983	Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Bruce Starling		2	Jan 6, 1983	Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Larry Jordan		2	Dec 9, 1982	Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.