Boxing: Barker challenge ends on canvas

European champion Darren Barker's brave bid to take Sergio Martinez's WBC middleweight title ended with an 11th-round knockout in Atlantic City on Saturday night.

Barker's unbeaten run ended after 23 fights, the 29-year-old outsider taking his opponent to one minute and 29 seconds of round 11 before the Argentine's power proved too much.

Barker had looked to match Martinez in the early rounds but, as he tried to make up lost ground, he was caught by Martinez's destructive punching.

Barker opened up in the 11th in a bid to take Martinez's title but he was stunned with a right before the champion moved in with another right which landed behind his opponent's ear.

Barker went to the canvas and, although he tried to get back up, he was counted out.