Missing his trainer Tony Simms after he failed to gain a visa, Purdy took a comprehensive seven round beating until middleweight contender Barker ended his misery, although not without a protest from the Colchester man.
Purdy, 25, just couldn’t lay a solid glove on the classy champion, who even fought several rounds with an injured left hand and can come again after being given just four weeks notice in taking the challenge.
‘The Great’ had just too much in his locker for Purdy and the 26 year-old now hopes to fight Floyd Mayweather in September after fulfilling his mandatory obligation to the IBF without actually fighting number one Kell Brook.
