Boxing: Hip injury may force beaten Darren Barker to retire

Darren Barker could be forced to retire after his hip problems resurfaced in defeat to Germany’s Felix Sturm (EPA)

Darren Barker could be forced to retire after his hip problems resurfaced in defeat to Germany’s Felix Sturm on Saturday night.

The London fighter’s trainer Tony Sims threw in the towel during the second round of his IBF middleweight title defence in Stuttgart after he had already been knocked-down twice. Barker was clearly troubled by his hip, and it later emerged he had suffered a suspected dislocation to the joint.

“It’s a disaster – you’ll probably never see him in the ring again,” said Sims.

“He’s had problems with his hips before and they’re just not right. He’ll have an X-ray and we’ll see what’s happening from there.”