Early life

Iran Barkley was the youngest of eight children raised in the Patterson Houses and was a member of the Black Spades street gang in his youth, along with former heavyweight contender Mitch Green. Iran's sister Yvonne, who fought professionally during the late 1970s, convinced him to start boxing.

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 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 Lineal/IBF 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.

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 via a twelve round split decision. Barkley defended his super-middleweight title against James Toney, which he lost 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 prestigious 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.

Current Status

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, the former world champion found housing and receives assistance so he can become self-supporting. Barkley currently resides in the Morrisania area of the South Bronx. He is a ringside regular at boxing matches in New York City. Barkley is a member of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Barkley enjoys teaching boxing skills to young amateurs. A May 20, 2011, online article on Boxrec News hinted Barkley is seriously considering making a comeback in the ring at age 51.

Professional boxing record

43 Wins (27 KOs), 19 Losses (7 KOs), 1 Draw
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	43-19-1	Keith McKnight
Loss	43-18-1	Trevor Berbick
Loss	43-17-1	Tony Halme
Loss	43-16-1	Thomas Williams
Loss	43-15-1	Joey Guy
Loss	43-14-1	Tue Bjorn Thomsen
Win	43-13-1	Caseny Truesdale
Draw	42-13-1	Dan Kosmicki
Loss	42-13	Tony LaRosa
Win	42-12	Marcelo Aravena
Win	41-12	Gerrie Coetzee
Win	40-12	Dave Fiddler
Win	39-12	Caseny Truesdale
Win	38-12	Frankie Hines
Win	37-12	Dan Kosmicki
Win	36-12	Craig Payne
Win	35-12	Brian Yates
Win	34-12	James Baker
Loss	33-12	Rocky Gannon
Loss	33-11	Tosca Petridis
Loss	33-10	Henry Maske
Win	33-9	Gary Butler
Win	32-9	Rick Enis
Loss	31-9	Adolpho Washington
Win	31-8	Dino Stewart
Loss	30-8	James Toney
Win	30-7	Robert Folley
Win	29-7	Thomas Hearns
Win	28-7	Darrin Van Horn
Win	27-7	Jesus Castaneda
Win	26-7	Juan Hernandez
Loss	25-7	Nigel Benn
Loss	25-6	Michael Nunn
Loss	25-5	Roberto Duran
Win	25-4	Thomas Hearns
Win	24-4	Michael Olajide
Win	23-4	Sanderline Williams
Loss	22-4	Sumbu Kalambay
Win	22-3	Jorge Amparo
Win	21-3	Stacy McSwain
Win	20-3	James Kinchen
Win	19-3	Basante Blanco
Win	18-3	Tony Harrison
Win	17-3	Mike Tinley
Win	16-3	Wilford Scypion
Win	15-3	Norberto Sabater
Win	14-3	Bill Lee
Win	13-3	Carlos Betancourt
Win	12-3	Randy Smith
Win	11-3	Norberto Sabater
Win	10-3	Osley Silas
Loss	9-3	Eddie Hall
Win	9-2	John Ford
Win	8-2	Esteban Pizzarro
Loss	7-2	Robbie Sims
Win	7-1	Marciano Bernardi
Win	6-1	Frank Minton
Win	5-1	Jose Torres
Loss	4-1	Osley Silas
Win	4-0	Donnie Franklin
Win	3-0	Donnie Williams
Win	2-0	Bruce Starling
Win	1-0	Larry Jordan

Amateur titles

• 1981 - Silver Medal (165 lb) at the New York Golden Gloves, losing to Dennis Milton
• 1981 - Gold Medal (165 lb) at the Empire State Games
• 1982 - Bronze Medal (165 lb)at the Copenhagen Box Cup in Copenhagen, Denmark
• 1982 - Bronze Medal (75 kg) at the World Championships in Munich, West Germany

Professional titles

Achievements
Preceded by Thomas Hearns	WBC Middleweight Champion 6 Jun 1988 - 24 Feb 1989	Succeeded by Roberto Durán
Preceded by Darrin Van Horn	IBF Super Middleweight Champion 10 Jan 1992- 13 Feb 1993	Succeeded by James Toney
Preceded by Thomas Hearns	WBA Light Heavyweight Champion 20 Mar 1992 - 1992 Vacated	Succeeded by Virgil Hill
Titles in pretence
Vacant Title last held by Herbie Hide	World Heavyweight Champion WBB recognition 8 June 1997 - 1997 Vacated	Succeeded by Mika Kihlstrom
Awards
Preceded by Sugar Ray Leonard W12 Marvelous Marvin Hagler	The Ring Magazine Upset of the Year W10 Roberto Duran 1989	Succeeded by Rene Jacquot W12 Donald Curry
Preceded by Vinny Paz	The Ring Magazine Comeback of the Year 1992	Succeeded by Zack Padilla

[ Source: Wikipedia ]