“The Natural” to square off after almost four years
By Brent Stubbs, Senior Sports Reporter, Nassau, Bahamas, Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Almost four years since his last fight, Freeman 'The Natural' Barr will be returning to the ring. He is scheduled to appear at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center in Punta Gorda, Florida, on August 31, 2010.
Although his opponent has not yet been named by his long-time Promoter/manager/trainer Steve Canton, 36-year-old Barr said he is rejuvenated and anxious to be fighting again.
"I should have a little bit of rust because I haven't been in action for a while," said Barr yesterday in an exclusive interview with Tribune Sports from his home in Naples, Florida.
"But I don't think it would affect me that much. As far as my energy is concerned, I feel better than I felt over 10 years ago. But I know I will be rusty because I haven't fought in about four years."
The five-foot, nine and-a-half inch orthodox fighter will be returning as a light heavyweight on the Brady Productions promotion by former National Football League (NFL) player Jeff Brady.
"I was really trying to get a promoter. Now I have a promoter and he's giving me the opportunity to get in shape and do what I have to do to get ready for the fight," Barr said.
"He told me that once I can get in a couple of fights, he probably could get me a world title fight in the future. So I'm looking forward to fighting at least two more times this year in October and December."
The native of Andros has produced a 28-4 win-loss record with 15 knockouts during a 16 year plus career that he spent with Canton after he left the Bahamas in 1994.
Canton, the organiser of the SJC Boxing Club, said it has been an uphill battle for both of them, but they have agreed to stick together.
"He was sick and was out for about two years," said Canton as he explained Barr's hiatus from the sport. "When he got back, he got two wins and then he was guaranteed a top ranking again, but nobody who was in the rankings wanted to fight him. We couldn't get a fight with Roy Jones Jr. or Antonio Tarver or Jean Pascal. We went down the list with everybody and they all said no. Then I got sick for about two months and I almost died. I wasn't supposed to make it, but I did."
During the time that Canton was on the mend, he noted that Barr kept the gym open in Fort Myers every day after he finished his electrical job in Naples.
"After I got well, he was coming in the gym two or three times a week just trying to maintain his weight, but nobody would give him a chance," Canton said.
"His reputation didn't allow him to get any fights. The other guys doing the shows didn't want to gamble by having him come on their show and beat their fighter. So we couldn't get him a fight."
Last year, however, Canton said Brady brought his son to the gym to train and after he got to know Barr, he decided to get his promotional license, formed Brady Productions and decided to provide Barr the opportunity to return to the ring.
"When you have a fighter who is a good fighter and you have money invested in them, you really don't want to give them a fighter who they feel can beat your fighter," Canton said.
"So because Freeman was such a good fighter, nobody wanted to take the gamble on him when they felt they had so many other fighters they could fight."
But Canton said he was pleased to see that Barr never gave up. He consistently stayed in the gym training, anxiously waiting for his chance to get back into the ring.
"I think he still has a good chance to win a world title," Canton said. "He's never taken a beating in the ring. He has fought some good fighters. Now it's time for him to get to the next level.
"So we will see what he looks like with some tune up fights and then after this, he should be able to get back into the ratings and hopefully he can get an opportunity to fight somebody out there."
For Barr, returning to Punta Gorda to fight is like fighting in his backyard where he has developed a large following of fans. So Barr said he's even more eager to get back into the ring.
Gomeo Brennen, a former Bahamian boxing champion, is expected to be a special guest at the fight. The resident of Florida was recently inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame.
