Darren Barker is certainly making sure he’s staying fuelled during The Longest Round challenge as he continues his epic journey all the way to Morocco.
The former IBF world middleweight champion is currently on route from Calais to Gibraltar by bike, and is arriving in Spain today – having already cycled from Edinburgh to Dover before swimming 21 miles in the sea.
The gruelling 1800-mile fundraiser, which he is completing in memory of Ricky Hatton, is naturally catching up with Barker but he is doing everything in his power to stay energised.
Barker, who is being fuelled by sponsor Just Eat along the journey, has opened up on the mammoth amount he is consuming each day to make sure he’s ready for what’s thrown at him.
The 44-year-old, who has hailed Just Eat’s support as ‘terrific’, said: “I am eating a lot. Constantly hydrating, snacking all the time. Basically drinking before I’m thirsty, eating before I’m hungry. Around 400 calories probably every half an hour or 45 minutes.
“I’m just eating all the time to keep the energy there. The food has been massive, it really has. It has been lovely to be able to eat and not worry about food, which I had to be when I was boxing. Having lots of carbs, lots of protein, and as I say, loads of snacks in between.”
Barker is loving not having to cut his weight – like he had to during his boxing career, admitting he is consuming around 6000 calories per day.
That works out as more than what British heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua consume each day in preparation for a fight.
On a typical day when he is preparing for a fight, Fury usually consumes around 4500 – 6000 calories per day, whereas Joshua has been known to consume between 4500 – 5500 calories daily during training camp.
Barker added: “I think I’ve been consuming about 6000 calories per day, there or thereabouts. And I’m burning about the same. So I am probably running about neutral. If anything, I’m a little bit on the low side as opposed to the high side.
“But yes it has been enjoyable being able to eat and not worry about it, which I had to be when I was a boxer when trying to get down to 160 pounds. It used to absolutely destroy me, so now to be able to compete, train and refuel has been absolutely epic.
“There was a day that I had two of the biggest bowls of pasta I’ve ever had. And that morning, I had five eggs on toast, that was the biggest day. I think that was one of the last days in the UK.”
Barker is also being sponsored by the likes of DAZN, Royal Navy, INEOS Grenadier, kp-pharma and Pretty Sailing throughout the challenge – which he is hoping to finish on September 14th in Morocco.
The boxing legend is raising funds for suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), with Hatton having been an ambassador of theirs before his death.
With his body starting to feel the pain and one-and-half legs of the challenge to go – including travelling across the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco – Barker is using the memory of Ricky and loved ones to spur him on.
“I am thinking a lot about Ricky, thinking a lot about loved ones that have passed on. I’m thinking about the difference me and the team are hopefully going to make.
“The Longest Round challenge is a microphone to get people talking, to spread awareness, we’re raising money – it’s happening. We’re having conversations when we’re here.”
